Report on Bar-coding



Report on Bar-coding Merits and demeritsSunil kumar NWHAT IS BAR CODING?A bar code (often seen as a single word,?barcode) is the small image of lines (bars) and spaces that is affixed to retail store items, identification cards, and postal mail to identify a particular product number, person, or location. The code uses a sequence of vertical bars and spaces to represent numbers and other symbols. A bar code symbol typically consists of five parts: A quiet zone, A start characterData characters (including an optional check character)A stop character and another quiet zone.A?barcode reader?is used to read the code. The reader uses a laser beam that is sensitive to the reflections from the line and space thickness and variation. The reader translates the reflected light into digital data that is transferred to a computer for immediate action or storage. Bar codes and readers are most often seen in supermarkets and retail stores, but a large number of different uses have been found for them. They are also used to take inventory in retail stores; to check out books from a library; to track manufacturing and shipping movement; to sign in on a job; to identify hospital patients; and to tabulate the results of direct mail marketing returns. Very small bar codes have been used to tag honey bees used in research. Readers may be attached to a computer (as they often are in retail store settings) or separate and portable, in which case they store the data they read until it can be fed into a computer.BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY:It is an automatic identification technologyBar code is a predefined format of dark bars and white spacesStructured to contain a specific piece of informationIt allows real-time data to be collected accurately and rapidlyCombination of barcode technology with computer and application software improves performance, productivity and profitability.BENEFITS OF BAR CODING:Represent unique identity of a productAccuracy of data input (error free)Aid effective management of resources and inventoriesLabor savings by avoiding manual systemCost efficientReal time data collectionMeasurement of work in progress throughout the factoryRapid access to total production costsMore accurate dispatch.Easy to learn: no expensive training for staff as easy to learn. Easy to use: requires minimum keystrokes and the mouse is never required (but you can use it if you want). Accommodating: if something is not in stock can send a customer order to the purchase order system Save your time, increase accuracy and provide greater control over what happens at the sales counter. It will enhance operation, providing with increased speed, accuracy and control of inventory - all of which lead to increased profits and more time to focus on growing business.BAR CODE APPLICATIONS:INVENTORY CONTROLPortable readersWORK-IN PROCESS TRACKING (WIP) COMPANY INVENTORYRaw materialsWIP (Components, Assemblies, Semi finished Products)Finished ProductsSHIPPINGELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)Direct communication between computers of two companies (Manufacturer & Vendor)Industry-wide EDI standardsReduces cost and saves time of business transactionWARE HOUSINGThere is no one standard bar code; instead, there are several different bar code standards called symbologies that serve different uses, industries, or geographic needsTHE FOLLOWING TABLE SUMMARIZES THE MOST COMMON BAR CODE STANDARDS:Bar Code StandardUsesUniform Product Code (UPC)Retail stores for sales checkout; inventory, etc.Code 39(Code 3 of 9)Identification, inventory, and tracking shipmentsPOSTNETEncoding?zip codes?on U.S. mailEuropean Article Number (EAN)A superset of the UPC that allows extra digits for country identificationJapanese Article Number (JAN)Similar to the EAN, used in JapanBooklandBased on ISBN numbers and used on book coversISSN bar codeBased on ISSN numbers, used on periodicals outside the U.S.Code 128Used in preference to Code 39 because it is more compactInterleaved 2 of 5Used in the shipping and warehouse industriesCodabarUsed by Federal Express, in libraries, and blood banksMICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition)A special font used for the numbers on the bottom of bank checksOCR-AThe optical character recognition format used on book covers for the human readable version of the ISBN numberOCR-BUsed for the human readable version of the UPC, EAN, JAN, Bookland, and ISSN bar codes and for optional human-readable digits with Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5 symbolsMaxicodeUsed by the United Parcel ServicePDF417A new 2-D type of bar code that can encode up to 1108 bytes of information; can become a compressed, portable?data file?(which is what the "PDF" stands for)?Step 1: ReceivingRaw materials or sub-assemblies arriving at a manufacturer’sreceiving dock have ID labels on their packaging to meet thecompany’s requirements for materials management. Otherwise, thereceiving department logs in the item and typically generates a 4–by-6-inch or smaller bar code label to identify the material before it ismoved to an inventory location or inspection station. These labelsare produced with either an industrial thermal printer at thereceiving area, or perhaps a mobile printer mounted on a lift truckor worn on a shoulder strap. Remote printing at receiving and otherareas throughout the facility helps productivity by saving workersfrom having to travel to central locations to pick up labels.Decentralized printers can be linked to manufacturing systems andother enterprise applications through a variety of networking techniques,including secure IEEE 802.11-standard wirelesscommunication.Step 2: Raw Material InventoryA warehouse operator transfers the material to an inventorylocation. These sites often are identified with bar code location codesprinted on reflective labels. The reflective material (such as Zebra’s8000T RetroScan labels) allows readability from scanners up to 30feet away. Bar codes and RFID provide accuracy because theoperator scans both the package and the new storage location tocomplete the transfer operation and automatically record it in thesystem.Step 3: PickingA work order from the factory floor signals the picking operation toretrieve raw materials or parts from inventory. The workers usingfork trucks, carts or just walking the aisles are directed to the exactinventory location where the material is located and told how manyof each part to pick. Bar codes are scanned again to complete thetransfer operation. Reusable totes and containers used for pickingand material handling operations can be identified with permanentbar code or RFID labels for automatic tracking. In some cases,inventory labels may need to be updated or corrected in thewarehouse to replace damaged labels or to identify a change inquantity. Secure, wireless mobile printers mounted to lift truckssimplify this operation. Pickers who don’t work from vehicles oftenuse mobile or cart-mounted printers to produce labels on demand.RFID tags are read/write, so tag data can be updated without generatinga new label. This feature is sometimes used to encode reusabletotes with a tracking number that associates the tote with thespecific order it is being used to fill.2Step 4: Work-in-Process (WIP)The picked materials are checked to confirm the right parts andquantities were picked. Labels on each item are scanned for confirmation.As the parts are used in assembly, bar code or RFID labelsenable part tracking throughout the process—showing that it wasconsumed in an assembly, or was set aside due to a defect or otherissue. As parts become assemblies, additional bar code labels can beadded to identify and track the assembly by its new part number, orthe RFID label can be updated.Bar codes and RFID labels produced on durable and specializedmedia enable materials to be automatically identified and tracked inchallenging production environments. Thermal printers supportmedia that withstands heat treatment and other temperatureextremes, exposure to chemicals, cleaners and solvents, UV light,abrasion, humidity and condensation, and can meet stringent cleanroom and electrostatic discharge (ESD) requirements. RFID iscommonly used in environments where optical identification ofbar codes is impossible because of low light, no visibility, or otherconditions.In some process manufacturing, bar code and RFID labels are usedto identify transitions between lots or batches. For example, inpaper, film, or coatings manufacturing, splices can be requiredbetween batches used to complete a master roll of material. Thesplice point is identified with a bar code label that identifies the timeand batch number of the new material. ................
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