|
  |
|
|
Barcode Labels and Manufacturing Trends
By Neil Jones
The last decade has seen a transformation of the manufacturing sector like never before. With complete tracking of raw materials, and inputs, product identification and stringent controls implemented at every step of the manufacturing process, the quality of products has improved and businesses have benefited in terms of cost reductions, lesser errors, ability to rectify them at every stage, accountability, and a higher level of efficiency. To prevent duplicating and counterfeiting, regulatory authorities have made the use of barcodes and RFID tags mandatory, with increasing demands for more and more information to be stored in them. From the time the first barcode label was used on a pack of Wrigley’s bubble gum thirty five years, the system of product identification has been revolutionized and being used for every product and service today. However, the linear barcodes are fast giving way to RFID tags and 2D barcodes due to their capacity to store more information.
Barcodes are instrumental in the success of many of the latest trends in manufacturing. The following are some examples: Barcodes and E-commerce
E-commerce has become the latest method of business with consumers buying everything online, cutting out all the agents, middlemen and distributors. End users directly order their goods online just as much as businesses. The age old system of manufacturers shipping large consignments to few distributors has been replaced to small consignments to a large clientele, mainly the end users. This necessitates accuracy in terms of identification of products, a larger number of shipping labels and the need to print labels on demand. All this has been facilitated by barcode labels and RFID tags. Just-In-Time Operations and Barcodes Modern commercial operations are focused on cost reductions and trimming expenses. This also involves looking for ways to cut inventory levels and the costs incurred in carrying higher inventory levels. Misplaced inventory and higher expenses thereafter are often additional expense. The ideal solution being getting supplies just in time when they are needed with a minimal overlap and preferably without a waiting period. Therefore manufacturers have started investing in JIT (just-in-time) inventory deliveries along with other supply chain participants. The focus then is to put systems in place whereby precise quantity requirements and the time frame in which they are needed have to be perfected. The sequence of requirements and the make-to-order requirements (MTO) are all part of the JIT systems being used. JIT systems in turn, are heavily dependent on barcode and RFID technologies to track products and services in real time. Enterprise Resource Planning and Warehouse Management Systems Manufacturers are becoming heavily dependent on software that helps in enterprise resource planning and warehouse management for managing their business in a cost-efficient manner. These systems also include JIT applications for the entire supply chain, and it simplifies the system of knowing where what is required at what time. The end result is enhanced efficiency and optimal resource management. The system helps to track each component and automated data collection helps in ERP systems. Once ERP systems are implemented, companies need some time before they can implement the next label printing solutions, and use appropriate software. It is here that barcode printing can be added to make a marked difference in performance, and barcode technology that can be upgraded to include RFID systems at a later stage would be a bigger asset. Networks and Wireless Communication Wireless communication and the network connections available enable printing on demand at remote locations with no wired encumbrances required. This saves labor costs, since the mobile workforce is able to accomplish all these tasks, and it helps to save time besides reducing errors. All that this entails is configuration of computers, smart phones and mobile printers to meet the demands of locations away from the office. They are then able to transfer relevant information, communicate urgent requirements and improve uptime. Global Supply Chains and Multilingual Labels
With multinational companies spreading their operations into newer countries, the same products have to be shipped to multiple locations. This necessitates printing the same label in different languages before they are shipped to different countries. This requires multilingual printers of barcode labels. However, this becomes easy with Uni-code enabled printers that have international character printing and save substantial amounts that would have been spent on customized output solutions. All these applications for barcodes use thermal printing for these applications on-demand. Thermal technology, be it direct thermal or thermal transfer, offers the best quality of print labels that are also long lasting. |
|
 |
|
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
Heavy duty stuff... Thanks for the info.
The copyright for this content entitled "Barcode Labels and Manufacturing Trends" has been specified by the contributor as:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Details 
This content may be copied, distributed, or modified as long as the original author is acknowledged with a link back to the content page.
If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://ntjones.qondio.com/
|
|
|
This intel was contributed by ntjones
|
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
