Barcode Match Part 2: Kitting and Fultillment

 

 

Kitting is specialized packaging. Bring all the parts together to form a complete kit. Thus, “kitting.”

How do you ensure than the kit is complete and all the various parts are there?

Barcode match is the best way. But if code match is a one-for-one match of a “master” barcode and its clone, how can code match work when the component parts of the kit are not all identical?

Match common portions of otherwise different barcodes

The answer is data parsing. Consider the following case:

Vendor Company identifies its parts with a barcode consisting of a part number bearing a prefix P followed by a serial number prefixed S. The barcode may contain specific data fields such as color, material (aluminum, ABS plastic, 3D printed, cast iron, etc), source location, etc.  The barcode match system can be instructed to parse out only the data which must match. If a rule can be written to define which part of the barcode should be matched, a barcode match system can be developed to confirm a match or signal a mismatch.

The matching component should be located in the same part of the barcode. In the GS1 system a prefix (Application Identifier  or AI) can be used to find the barcode match data. In a closed-loop system the data can be anywhere—as long as the prefix or position in the barcode is consistent.

It simplifies things if the matching data field is always the same number of characters, but it is not a deal breaker if it is variable in length. But there must be a way to define where the matching data is located. However, the data string in the clone is identical to the master in every way including length.

Barcode symbol types do not have to match–just the data

It is not essential that the master and the clone be identical barcode types. You can barcode match a master that is Code 128 and a clone that is Data Matrix, as long as the data fields are identical.

Barcode match devices are usually portable data terminals with on-board scanners. The pre-loaded applications are very basic, doing 1-to-One or 1-to-Many barcode matching. These systems almost always include the ability to download a report to a host PC or network server via a communications cradle which can also recharge the PDT’s batteries.

From Simple to Highly Customized

The sky is the limit for how sophisticated a barcode match system can be. The more complicated a kitting requirement, the more important a barcode match system can be for assuring order accuracy and customer satisfaction.

Barcode-Test offers a variety of barcode match solutions, including:

• a range of handheld scanners from a very simple, low cost hand held device to and a more feature-rich PDT.
• a very feature-rich but low cost Android app download