JAN Code

Definition and Overview

A JAN Code is a number used to identify products at the distribution stage, and it is operated as Japan's product identification code. The number is printed as a barcode symbol so it can be read at cash registers, in warehouse management, and for order placement and receiving.

In apparel, it is set as the unit for distinguishing products that have the same product number but different colors or sizes. It is a code for sales products, and its purpose differs from product numbers for fabric and accessories, or management numbers used only inside the factory.

Position in Product Development

JAN Code design is carried out after defining the product master for product number, color, size, suggested retail price, and other details during the planning stage, and it leads to hang tag and packaging material ordering and registration in the shipping system. It is not the sewing specification itself, but it is a process that connects mass production and sales information.

Share instructions with the sewing factory that clearly state the product number, color number, size, order quantity, JAN Code, and the display position. If hang tags are attached at the factory, include the same corresponding information in the packing list and inspection standards to prevent mix-ups between products and tags.

How to Set It Up

First, decide the smallest unit to distinguish for sales. Usually, one JAN Code is assigned to each combination of product number, color, and size, and even when the sales format differs, such as set sales or single-item sales, manage them as separate products as needed.

After numbering the codes, standardize the notation across the product master, hang tag data, EC product registration, and shipping data. Before mass production, check the printed sample with the actual scanner and verify whether the code, product name, color, and size are linked correctly.

• Confirm the product numbers, colors, sizes, and sales units to be numbered.
• Register the code and each attribute one-to-one in the product master.
• Decide the display specifications and attachment position for hang tags, labels, and packaging.
• Before mass production, match the printed content with the scanning results.
• Conduct pre-shipment inspection by comparing delivery data with the actual products.

Ordering and Quality Notes

When ordering hang tags or barcode labels, specify not only the code number but also the target product number, color, size, quantity, print position, orientation, and display content. Even if the number is correct, if the size notation on the tag or the attachment target is different, it can lead to incorrect shipments in stores or logistics.

For print quality, pay attention to dirt, fading, smudging, folding, and unreadable printing caused by glossy packaging materials. When attaching labels after sewing or inspection, also check for peeling, wrinkles, and adhesive residue on the product. For products that undergo garment washing, it is common to set the hang tag attachment process after washing.

Differences from Similar Terms

A barcode refers to the symbol itself, such as striped patterns, used for machine reading of numbers. A JAN Code is the code system for product identification that is often represented by that symbol. The number and the printed symbol are sometimes referred to as having the same meaning, but distinguishing them in operations helps reduce misunderstandings.

An EAN code is a name for an international product identification code and is sometimes treated as having a meaning close to JAN Code. On the other hand, a product number is a number used by a brand or company to manage its own products, and it is not necessarily a common code for distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions