The verifier is reporting low grades on your barcodes, consistently in the D and F range. Your scanner decodes them just fine. Which do you believe? What is the smart way to proceed?

Verifier grade is not a guarantee

Understand what the ISO barcode grading system means. An ANSI A grade does not guarantee that your barcode will scan everywhere. Some scanners may fail to decode them. Conversely, an ANSI F grade does not guarantee that your barcode will work nowhere. Some scanners will read them perfectly. The ISO specification provides a method for predicting barcode performance, based on a proven and measurable set of print quality parameters. The ISO parameters measure and grade the same attributes that the scanner utilizes to decode the barcodes. It does not provide guarantees—but it does provide a scientific basis for measuring and grading barcode performance. And it provides a compelling defense against barcode quality-related liability. All of which emphasizes the question—what do you believe, where is your defense and how do you manage the risk of bad barcodes?

New substrates bring new challenges to barcode quality

Things change: scanners and vision systems, new printing technologies and advanced packaging materials are uncharted territory to the venerable ISO standard. The ISO standard is also evolving, but at a slightly slower pace.  Direct printing on flexible materials and disinfectant-compatible laminates are but two examples of recent technological developments that sometimes challenge the established specifications and definitions of acceptability.

So, back to the original question: when do you ignore your barcode verifier?  There is only one circumstance that we can think of which would warrant this:

…when non-negotiable requirements of your customer make it impossible to produce a barcode that achieves a passing ISO grade.

Proceed with caution and diligence

  • Document the requirement—do not proceed with just a verbal mandate
  • Notify your customer of the ramifications
  • Diplomatically require them to absolve you of any liability in writing
  • Only then, ignore your verifier.

Circumstances where a customer requires you to “break the rules” are not unprecedented. A good vendor will encounter them but dealing with it correctly is critical. It is always a good idea to engage management, to protect your company as well as yourself. When a customer asks (or demands) that you bend or break the rules, it can be a teaching and learning opportunity. Rather than putting the relationship on the line, it can impress the customer with your dedication to them as their vendor and the quality of the product you provide.

Break the rules if you must–wisely

It is possible that the customer’s directive to compromise quality is based on factors or opinions that do not take liability and chargebacks into consideration. Diplomatic pushback from a respected vendor could open some eyes and minds. Re-thinking the initial decision could further strengthen your standing as the vendor of choice.

Ignore your barcode verifier? Never. But when there are non-negotiable problems, proceed with caution and intelligence.

Comments are always welcome. Contact us here.

Recommended Posts

3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager