Barcode quality has been the primary topic of discussion these past months. It’s important to may industries in a  wide variety of applications. What about you out there in the trenches?

Barcode quality problems: What’s your Experience?

Barcode quality is a multi-step procedure. For example, in the retail channel every step in the process, from getting the GTIN number assigned to the item to creating the barcode design file to incorporating it into the packaging graphics to getting it printed and notifying the retailers to finally getting the item on retailer shelves and ultimately to the point-of-sale—every step is an error opportunity for the barcode to fail.

So what, in your opinion, dear reader, is the problem with barcode quality—in 3-4 sentences?

Barcode quality is a multi-step procedure: where do you see most of the failures?

It doesn’t make a difference whether the barcode is in a consumer product retail channel, a drug trace-and-track environment, a health industry supplier situation or in manufacturing automation—but I’m willing to be proven wrong for the opportunity to hear from  you.

Just a few ground rules, please:

  • ·         Speak from your own experience, not a story you heard or something you saw on the Discovery Channel. Don’t divulge details that     would embarrass a company or an individual—just what the problem was in simplest of terms.
  • ·         Talk about something that happened recently, not ten years ago.
  • ·         Tell us what caused the problem
  • ·         Tell us what the happened as a result of the problem—for example, the anonymous company was written up for quality, the company was fined $100,000, the company was invited off the retailer’s shelves, etc.
  • ·         Tell us if (and if so, how) a recurrence of the error has been corrected
  • ·         Tell us if you think a barcode related problem will never happen again at that company.

 

Enough from me.

Now it’s your turn to speak.

 

 

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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