subject: The Impact of Barcodes in the Manufacturing Industry [print this page] The Impact of Barcodes in the Manufacturing Industry
In any manufacturing operation, total productivity and quality are the two very important factors that affect the company's bottom line. Productivity and quality here do not just refer to the products but to the various steps or activities necessary to produce the desired products such as materials management, production planning and control, productivity and quality management, or supply chain management. Computers and the development of various application software that help provide real time and accurate information have helped manufacturing companies achieve the current levels of efficiency and quality. For example, RFID or radio frequency identification and barcode systems have tremendously enhanced the levels of efficiency and accuracy in manufacturing management.
Below are some of the increasing number of ways by which barcode labels and RFID tags are proven to be useful:
A. Labels and Tags
From the time Wrigley's became the first product to get a barcode, an increasing number of companies have used the barcodes to identify the products and services they offered. In fact, some multinational companies and regulatory authorities have mandatory requirements for barcodes because their systems won't be able to record and process products without barcodes on their packages. Some barcodes are more complicated in design, more than the traditional linear barcodes like the compliance labels that need two-dimensional barcodes or RFID tags. Some products are required to have compliance labels to warn handlers of potential hazards, or for traceability of parts especially in the automotive, aerospace, electronics and other defense supplier industries. Even within a manufacturing area, compliance labels are effective in keeping track of the production status, delivery schedule as well as in data collection that are very important in management decision making. Accurate and timely information from the barcodes or RFID tags help ensure the effective monitoring of any potential manufacturing concerns before they become cause of delays or additional cost.
B. Manufacturing Process Monitoring
Traceability and keeping track of the status of all items in the manufacturing line have become simpler, more accurate and faster with the help of RFID tags and barcodes. Following are examples of how RFID tags or barcodes are used in the various manufacturing processes.
As identification labels in the raw material packages received. For traceability, the labels are scanned before they are stored in the warehouses or production floor. Here, portable barcodes are needed because the goods are not yet inside the warehouse.
As the packages of materials are received in the warehouse, they are identified by another barcode.
Work orders specify the raw materials needed through barcodes. So, the barcodes are once again scanned by the forklift before the materials are picked up from he shelves and taken out of the warehouse.
In the production area, the materials are checked before they are actually used by scanning their barcodes.
Finished products are identified by their unique barcode labels that are within the accepted standards or they may not be readable to the end users' scanners.
Identical finished products are grouped into lots for shipping or delivery to the users. Each lot has specified quantities and a new barcode is generated for its identification.
There are other ways by which barcodes or RFID tags aid in the smooth flow of various manufacturing processes. The major benefit is the reduction of human errors because the manufacturing personnel do not need to read and copy the labels. Scanners don't get tired and functions consistently as long as they are used correctly. Thus, the use of RFID tags and barcodes has significantly raised the level of efficiency in the manufacturing industry.
