Visit here regularly for updates on HIWG activities and documents/revisions being released for the hardware industry. Register now if you would like updates emailed to you directly (eNews service).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

The HIWG has released a new presentation that gives an overview of the currently available HIWG Document Format Options - including UN/EDIFACT (EANCOM), HIWG Flat Files and HIWG FFXML. The presentation is a PowerPoint Slide Show with voiceover (available from the Home Page).

The TIEG (Timber Industry E-commerce Group), a Sector Group of the HIWG, have released a new guide to B2B E-Trading Metrics. This paper aims to assist those implementing B2B with possible metrics that could be used to measure implementation success. Although published by the TIEG, it is equally relevant to all those trading electronically. This document can be viewed/downloaded from the free Downloads area (see under GENERAL HIWG AND SECTOR GROUP DOCUMENTS / RECOMMENDATION PAPERS).

The HIWG has released a new White Paper to provide some general information (a high level view) on the topic of "Master Data Synchronisation". This document can be viewed/downloaded from the free Downloads area (see under GENERAL HIWG AND SECTOR GROUP DOCUMENTS / RECOMMENDATION PAPERS).

ANNOUNCING HIWG SPONSORS FOR 2008!!

The HIWG has been working with a range of software/service providers over the years. There are a number of these who have now become "HIWG Sponsors" for 2008. Information about the current HIWG Principal and Support Sponsors (and how to join as a sponsor) is available from the new HIWG Sponsors pages.

A new paper has been developed jointly between GS1 Australia and the HIWG which provides guidelines for product identification for non-brand owner specific products. This document aims to provide the reader with an overview of the best practice for ensuring that unpackaged product traded in the hardware sector, seen as "non-brand name specific" at some point in the supply chain, is appropriately and effectively identified using GS1 GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers).

This document can be viewed/downloaded from the free Downloads area.

The HIWG have now released HIWG FFXML Price Catalogue v3.0 (December 2007) specifications and schema. This specification matches the previously released HIWG Flat File Price Catalogue v3.0 (September 2005) specifications.

In addition, the updated version of the Hardware Industry Numbering and Bar Coding Guidelines have been released - Version 1.0 December 2007 - incorporating additional information and clarification. These guidelines are now "Australasian" and can be used across both Australia and New Zealand.

These documents can be viewed/downloaded from the free Downloads area.

The HIWG have published a number of documents to assist those wishing to implement an electronic purchase order response:

• HIWG Flat File Purchase Order Response v1.0 (based on the HIWG UN/EDIFACT ORDRSP MIG)
• HIWG Flat File POR Excel Template v1.0
• HIWG FFXML Order Response v1.0
• HIWG FFXML Order Response Schema v1.0

These can be viewed/downloaded from the free Downloads area.

The TIEG (Timber Group) Recommendations Paper on Bar Coding Timber Packs has been updated (from v1.0 to v1.1). See Downloads, Timber (TIEG) Documents.

The BIEG (Building Group) has published a Recommendations Paper on Supply and Fit Business Scenarios (v1.0) which includes a very basic electronic process guide. See Downloads, Building (BIEG) Documents.

The following HIWG Recommendations Papers are now available for free view/download.

• Use of GLNs in the ANZ Hardware Industry v1.0 (September 2007)
  GLN = GS1 Global Location Number
  
• Use of UOMs in the Hardware Industry v1.0 (September 2007)
  UOMs = Units of Measure

Using the HIWG UN/EDIFACT Control MIG (CONTRL) as the basis, the HIWG have developed an HIWG FFXML Control specification and schema. These documents have now been released and are available from the Downloads area of the website.

An HIWG UN/EDIFACT EDI envelope (Interchange Control Stucture) has been developed and is now available from the Downloads area. See Technical - HIWG EDI MIGS.

HIWG-GS1 Training Sessions have now been scheduled for July-September 2007. See HIWG/HIWG Training for list of dates and details.

• Training Course 1: GS1 Numbering & Bar Coding and the HIWG Flat File Pricat v3.0
• Training Course 2: Basic EDI - UN/EDIFACT, EANCOM and the HIWG EDI Purchase Order
• Training Course 3: B2B E-Trading Basics

Training in 2007 will be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Auckland.

These training sessions are free for those working in the broad hardware industry, but REGISTRATION is essential.

Note that the current versions for the HIWG FFXML Purchase Order (v2.0) and Invoice (v3.0) have had slight modifications (corrections) made to them and have been republished as at 15 April 2007.

HIWG Flat File specifications for Purchase Order (v2.0), Invoice (v3.0) and Remittance Advice (v1.0), now also have matching Excel Templates available for use. See Downloads, Technical - HIWG Flat File Specifications.

The NZRSG in conjunction with GS1 New Zealand will be running an industry B2B Awareness Session in Auckland on Thursday 24 May 2007. For details refer to New Zealand tab - NZRSG Events.

The HIWG FFXML Envelope specification (v1.0, 22 January 2007) and schema are now available for view/download. This simple XML envelope can be used with any of the HIWG FFXML document specifications (eg. for invoice or purchase order).