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Ten Commandments of Bar Coding Richard B. Meyers Delta Services ©

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Ten Commandments Low Density (CPI) Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR) Carbon Ink Media Substrate & Adhesives Verification Scanner Resolution & Media Density Bar Code Height & Quiet Zones Numbering Schemes User Friendliness Support Source

Primary Focus Code 39 Code 128 UPC/EAN

Not A Single Label . . . . . . . .

But Many Types and ………

Many Scanner and Terminal Choices!

Plus Multiple Printer Decisions !

Endless Opportunities !

Bottom Line: Many Ingredients !

Low Density Characters Per Inch (95% of All Applications) SYMBOL “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) .020" .013" .010" .0075"

“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) Low Density Characters Per Inch SYMBOL “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) .020" .013" .010" .0075" Code 39 3-4 5-6 6-7 8-10

“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) Low Density Characters Per Inch SYMBOL “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) .020" .013" .010" .0075" Code 39 3-4 5-6 6-7 8-10 Code 128 (A/N) 4.6 7.0 9.1 12.1

“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) Low Density Characters Per Inch SYMBOL “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) .020" .013" .010" .0075" Code 39 3-4 5-6 6-7 8-10 Code 128 (A/N) 4.6 7.0 9.1 12.1 Code 128 (N) 14.0 18.2 24.2

“X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) Low Density Characters Per Inch SYMBOL “X” Factor (Narrowest Element Size) .020" .013" .010" .0075" Code 39 3-4 5-6 6-7 8-10 Code 128 (A/N) 4.6 7.0 9.1 12.1 Code 128 (N) 14.0 18.2 24.2 UPC/EAN 5 10 12 -

Low Density BIGGER is Better ! Implement with the Key Point: Lowest Practical Density Key Point: BIGGER is Better !

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR) Elements: Code 128 = 1:1 and 2:1 and 3:1 and 4:1 = 1:1 and 2:1 and 3:1 and 4:1 UPC/EAN

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR) Elements: Narrow Wide (2 to 1) Wide (3 to 1) Code 39 Range

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR for Code 39) Narrow .010 inch Wide (2 to 1) .020 inch Wide (3 to 1) .030 inch

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR for Code 39) Hypothetical Case ... NARROW Bars/Spaces GROW 30% WIDE Bars/Spaces SHRINK 30%

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR for Code 39) Narrow .010 inch .013 inch (+ 30%) Wide (2 to 1) .020 inch .014 inch (- 30%)

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR for Code 39) Narrow .010 inch .013 inch (+ 30%) Wide (2 to 1) .020 inch .014 inch (- 30%) Wide (3 to 1) .030 inch .021 inch (- 30%)

Wide to Narrow Bar Ratio (WNBR) For Code 39, Implement WNBR = 3:1 (If Practical) Key Point:

Must Know the Difference Between Carbon Inks Print Contrast Signal (PCS) Dark Light Must Know the Difference Between

Carbon Inks Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks

Carbon Inks Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks All Scanners Scan with Carbon Inks

Carbon Inks Carbon vs. Alcohol/Dyed-Based Inks All Scanners Scan with Carbon Inks Not All Scanners Scan with Alcohol/Dye-Based Inks

Carbon Inks Hostile Environments (IR Scanner) - Ultra Violet - Contaminents

Carbon Inks Scanning Performance Key Point: Often Better with

Carbon Inks Major Exception: UPC/EAN in the Food Industry

Media Substrate & Adhesive Backing a Stepchild

Opacity

Media Substrate Adhesive Backing & Opacity Thermal Printers - Direct - Transfer

Media Substrate Adhesive Backing & Opacity Thermal Printers Adhesive Backing (Labels) - Many Types (Permanent vs. Temporary)

Media Substrate & Adhesive Backing Key Point: Media Requirements Depend on: - Label Shelf Life Scanning Frequency Temperature & Humidity Type of Surface

Verification Source Document to IT System Which is Better ?

“3 Yards and a Cloud of Dust”

Verification Poor Quality Media 1. Scanner Doesn’t Scan 2. Scanner Scans Bad Data 3. Bad Data from Scanning

Verification Definition - Scannable - Internal Application vs. External Application

Manual Verification (Internal) plus or

Verify to Standard (external) Hand Held or On-Line Verifiers

Verification Quality Compliance (QC) can be achieved with Manual and Sophisticated Techniques Key Point:

Scanner Resolution & Media Density

Scanner Resolution & Media Density

Scanner Resolution & Media Density

Scanner Resolution & Media Density Spot Void

Scanner Resolution & Media Density Key Point: Spot Size = 80% “X” For Most Applications: Lasers = 1 Model Wands = 3 Models (Lo, Med, Hi)

Headache Time !

Bar Code Height ( Arching Motion )

Bar Code Quiet Zones

No Quiet Zones !

Code Height & Quiet Zones Key Point: Symbol Height Quiet Zones Codes 39 & 128 Greater of: .25” or 15% Length .25” or 10 “X” UPC/EAN 1.02” (Nominal) .117”

Numbering Schemes UPC/EAN is All Numeric (License Plate Approach)

Numbering Schemes Codes 39 & 128 are Alpha-Numeric (Code 128 can be Numeric Only)

Numbering Schemes UPC/EAN is All Numeric (License Plate Approach) Codes 39 & 128 are Alpha-Numeric Excessive Data Costs: - Money - Time - Accuracy

Numbering Schemes Amend Current Schemes Key Point: When Practical. Two Ways: Computer Input Human Recognition Key Point:

User Friendliness First Pass Read Rate (80+%)

User Friendliness First Pass Read Rate (80+%) Second Pass Read Rate (95+%)

Going Home !!!

User Friendliness Training & Confidence

Four-Step Training Program - A Confidence Builder Review Current Transaction Procedures

Four-Step Training Program - A Confidence Builder Review Current Transaction Procedures Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL!

Four-Step Training Program - A Confidence Builder Review Current Transaction Procedures Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL! Simulate New Transaction Procedures

Four-Step Training Program - A Confidence Builder Review Current Transaction Procedures Provide Benefits of Bar Coding - SELL! Simulate New Transaction Procedures Introduce Contaminated Media

User Friendliness Use “Data or Application Identifiers”

? ? Data or Application Identifiers ? ?

Data Identifiers

Application Identifiers SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)

Data Identifiers (DI’s) Application Identifiers (AI’s) DI’s = 1 alpha and up to 3 numeric characters AI’s = 1 to 4 numeric characters

Data Identifiers (DI’s) Application Identifiers (AI’s) DI Source: ANSI Document MH 10.8.2 ANSI: 212-642-4900 or www.ansi.org AI Source: Uniform Code Council Document UCC 4 UCC: 937-435-3870 or www.uc-council.org

User Friendliness Best Test of Implementation is Key Point: Measured at Point-of-Scanning Key Point:

Support Source Quality Suppliers are Available - Hardware - Software

Support Source Quality Suppliers are Available - Hardware - Software Total Systems Expertise is Required - Planning - Training - Implementation

Support Source Data Capturing Techniques Key Point: Should be Fully Integrated Into Information Technology Systems! Key Point:

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