When to Replace a Barcode Verifier
Like everything else you own, a barcode verifier has a service life. It’s obvious when to replace your computer or your smartphone, but not so obvious when a barcode verifier has reached the end of life unless it has failed altogether.
What’s a Verifier?
First, let’s be clear about what is—and what is not—a barcode verifier. A true verifier will have a certificate of compliance to ISO Standard 15426-1 and/or 15426-2. These are the standards for verifiers of linear and 2D symbols respectively. If your device did not come with certification to one of these standards, it is not a verifier. A true verifier will also have a certified reflectance calibration card with which you can calibrate the verifier to two known reflectance values. This ensures that the verifier will accurately detect and evaluate the reflectance values of a barcode it is testing.
What is User Calibration?
Doesn’t the reflectance calibration card test verifier accuracy and therefore provide evidence that the verifier is (or is not) operating accurately? Not necessarily. Recalibration with a reflectance calibration card resets voltages to LED’s that may have faded over time. While this sounds like a proper and adequate compensation, it has limitations. One limitation is how much compensation it can accomplish, Another limitation is how long the device can maintain the compensation, and this relates to why the fading has occurred. Is it the LED’s themselves, or is it from upstream electronics? Are the LED’s faded beyond the range of available compensation? Is the compensated power boost stable and sustainable over time? Are the multiple LED’s uniformly faded or is one or are one or two fading disproportionately to the others? The reflectance calibration test will not detect these problems. Factory recalibration can.
This is why factory calibration is an important annual maintenance event and not redundant to user recalibration with the reflectance calibration card.
What is Factory Calibration?
What are the ramifications of verifying a barcode with faded and uneven LED’s? The good news—if you can call it that—is, that the verifier will inaccurately evaluate the reflectance values and report lower values than actual. The barcode will get a lower grade than it would with a properly performing verifier. Why is that “good news”? While inaccurate verifier grading is never really good news, a pessimistic verifier grade is better than an optimistic grade that reports a bad barcode as good.
An accurate verifier is the best protection against barcode risk and liability. It supports trading partner confidence in you. It helps you keep promises. It provides peace of mind.
John helps companies resolve current barcode problems and avoid future barcode problems to stabilize and secure their supply chain and strengthen their trading partner relationships.
