Which data elements does the EPCIS framework capture to enable supply chain visibility?

• A. Status, location, movement, and chain of custody
• B. Price, discount rate, and inventory turnover
• C. Manufacturing date, batch size, and supplier rating
• D. Marketing campaigns, sales channels

Answer: (A)

EPCIS is about recording events that describe what happened to an item as it moves through the supply chain, focusing on the movement and handling of the product to enable real-time visibility. To make this visibility meaningful, it captures the item’s status (its current condition or disposition, such as in transit or received), its location (where the item is, at a specific point like a facility or read point), the movement (the transfers and steps the item takes between locations), and the chain of custody (who handled the item and when). These elements together create a traceable, auditable record that supports provenance, recalls, and accountability across multiple handlers. Data such as price, discounts, manufacturing date or batch size, or marketing campaigns describe other aspects of the business but do not convey the item’s movement or custody, so they aren’t the data elements EPCIS centers on for visibility.