BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY FOR SMEs

Indian Institute of Management, Indore

Prof M ScalemProf M ScalemIMPETUS Chair of IT & Systems

Email: scalem@iimidr.ac.in

Mr. Kishor C. SatpathyMr. Kishor C. SatpathyLibrarian

Email: satpathy@iimidr.ac.in

Reading Between the Lines

Bar Codes have infiltrated every facet of our lives; you'll find them in grocery stores, hospitals, department stores, libraries, on farms, even in your own home. 

Bar coding is a proven technology in use for more than last 30 years and finds large scale acceptance as the best possible method of accurate and faster data entry into the user’s system. Bar codes are just a different way of encoding numbers and letters by using a combination of bars and spaces of varying widths. Think of them as another way of writing since they replace key data entry as a method of gathering data. In business, the correct use of bar codes can reduce inefficiencies and improve a company's productivity thereby growing their bottom line.

Barcode…….

Barcodes are a fast, easy, and accurate way of entering data.

This may come as a surprise to you! A bar code doesn't contain descriptive data. Just as your social security number doesn't contain your name or address, a bar code is just a reference number that a computer uses to look up an associated record that contains descriptive data and other important information.

Bar Code Technology

It is an automatic identification technology Bar code is a predefined formatted series of black and white

bars and spaces that represents a series of characters and symbols. Bar codes are read by sweeping a small spot of light across the printed bar code symbols.

Structured to contain a specific piece of information Information are stored from left to right. Letters, numbers, characters and symbols are designed to

store information in the form easily read and printed by machine.

It allows real-time data to be collected accurately and rapidly Combination of barcode technology with computer and

application software improves performance, productivity and profitability

Why Barcode ?

Bar codes are accurate They eliminate manual data entry errors Barcodes speed data entry. A bar code can

be scanned in a fraction of the time it takes to enter the information manually

Barcodes can be produced easily and cheaply

Can be printed on most computer printers, for the cost of ink and printer

Use

Since their invention in the 20th century, barcodes — especially the UPC — have slowly become an essential part of modern civilization. Their use is widespread, and the technology behind barcodes is constantly improving. Some modern applications of barcodes include:

Practically every item purchased from a grocery store, department store, and mass merchandiser has a barcode on it. This greatly helps in keeping track of the large number of items in a store and also reduces instances of shoplifting (since shoplifters could no longer easily switch price tags from a lower-cost item to a higher-priced one). Since the adoption of barcodes, both consumers and retailers have benefited from the savings generated. 6

Use…..

Document Management tools often allow for barcoded sheets to facilitate the separation and indexing of documents that have been imaged in batch scanning applications.

The tracking of item movement, including rental cars, airline luggage, nuclear waste, mail and parcels.

Recently, researchers have placed tiny barcodes on individual bees to track the insects' mating habits.

Many tickets now have barcodes that need to be validated before allowing the holder to enter sports arenas, cinemas, theatres, fairgrounds, transportation etc.

Used on automobiles, can be located on front or back.

Advantages of Bar Code

Speed: data can be entered into the computer more rapidly

Accuracy: bar code systems are error free. They don’t reply on human beings to type

Reliability: they have formats designed with built in error checking

Easy to operate Reduced man power Reduction in paper work Clerical work is reduced

Benefits…

Cost EfficientReal Time Data CollectionMeasurement of Work in

Progress throughout the FactoryRapid Access to Total Production

CostsMore Accurate Dispatch

Benefits….

Represent Unique Identity of a Product

Accuracy of Data Input (Error Free)

Aid Effective Management of Resources And Inventories

Labour Savings by Avoiding Manual System

DATA ENTRY TECHNIQUES

MANUAL METHODS KEYBOARD

OPERATION 1 ERROR/300

CHARACTERS

AUTOMATIC METHODS

OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION

MAGNETIC INK MACHINE VISION RADIO FREQUENCY

IDENTIFICATION SMART CARDS BAR CODE

Symbology

Symbology is considered a language in bar code technology. Just as you might speak French while traveling in France, a symbology allows a scanner and a bar code to "speak" to each other.

When a bar code is scanned, it's the symbology that enables the information to be read accurately. And then when a bar code is printed, it's the symbology that allows the printer to understand the information that needs to be turned into a label.

Symbology

How Bar Codes are Read

Bar codes are read by sweeping a small spot of light across the printed bar code symbol. Your eyes only see a thin red line emitted from the laser scanner. But what’s happening is that the scanner’s light source is being absorbed by the dark bars and reflected by the light spaces. A device in the scanner takes the reflected light and converts it into an electrical signal. The scanner’s laser (light source) starts to read the bar code at a white space (the quiet zone) before the first bar and continues passing by the last bar, ending in the white space which follows it. Because a bar code cannot be read if the sweep wanders outside the symbol area, bar heights are chosen to make it easy to keep the sweep within the bar code area. The longer the information to be coded, the longer the bar code needed. And as the length increases, so does the height of the bars and spaces to be read .

BAR CODE TERMINOLOGY

o BAR- The darker, non reflective element of a Bar Code

o BI-DIRECTIONAL SYMBOL- A Bar Code symbol format which permits reading in either direction across the bars and spaces

o CHECK DIGIT - A calculated character included within the Bar

Code for error detectiono FIXED BEAM SCANNER

- A stationary Bar Code Scanner. The symbol must be moved through the light beam to be read

TERMINOLOGY …

HAND-HELD SCANNER A scanner held and operated by a human

operator

INTER-CHARACTER GAP The space between the bars or spaces

MOVING BEAM SCANNER A Bar Code scanner that uses a moving light

beam to dynamically scan and decode a Bar

Code symbol

TERMINOLOGY …

SPACE The lighter, reflective element of a Bar Code

START CHARACTER A special pattern of bars and spaces used to

identify the beginning of a Bar Code symbol

STOP CHARACTER A special pattern of bars and spaces used to

identify the end of a Bar Code symbol

Bar-code system

Printer

BAR CODE SCANNERS

A device used to extract information optically from a Bar Code

Bar Code symbol consists of series of vertical dark bars separated by light spaces

When illuminated reflected light is detected by electro optical sensor

The intensity of reflected light from the dark bars is less than that of spaces

SCANNERS …

Reflected light is converted into

electrical voltage signals

Analog voltages are digitized into raw

data

The decoder converts this data into the

character data representation of the

symbol’s code

TYPES OF SCANNERS (READERS)

CONTACT READERS Must touch or come in close proximity of symbol Good where the label cannot be placed in an

easy-to-view position Normally hand-held/stationary units Common type is pen/wand reader A high-density resolution wand used to read a

low-density symbol might see an ink spot as bar or an ink void as a space

CONTACT READERS …

A low-resolution wand may not be able to

recognise a narrow bar of high-density

symbol

Positioned angle of wand to the surface

and movement speed across the symbol

are key parameters

Contact Readers

NON-CONTACT READERS

Reader need not come in contact with symbol

Scan distance may be from 6” to several feet depending upon symbol size and scanner design

Hand-held, fixed beam readers

Mounted fixed beam reader

Table mounted fixed beam reader

Hand-Held beam readers

Fixed beam slot scanner

CCD Scanner

Portable Data Collection Equipment

Typical Applications for Bar Coding

RetailReceiving and Put away Warehouse and Inventory

Management Work – In - Process tracking Transportation and Logistics Shipping and Distribution

Applications….

Product labelingShipping labelsStores managementCompliance labelingWarehouse and distribution

Applications…..

INVENTORY CONTROL Portable readers

WORK-IN PROCESS TRACKING (WIP) COMPANY INVENTORY Raw materials WIP (Components, Assemblies, Semi

finished Products) Finished Products

Applications …

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) Direct communication between computers of two companies (Manufacturer & Vendor)

Industry-wide EDI standards Reduces cost and saves time of business transaction

Applications …

RETAIL APPLICATIONS Super markets Counter-mounted Bar Code scanners Universal Product Code (UPC) Price and description information

WARE HOUSING HEALTH CARE APPLICATIONS

Drugs, devices, instruments Identification of expiry date Blood banking

Blood group Expiry date Donor traceability

Bar Coding in Educational Organisations

Paper valuationAttendance registerAsset trackingMaterials managementLibrary Management

Applications …Applications …

Requirements of Bar Code Technology

Computer systemBar code printerLaser scanner Consumables like labels,

printer ink, etc.

BAR CODING IN LIBRARIES: A CASE STUDY OF IIM INDORE

Background….. Libraries always had cumbersome manual check

in/check out systems. Borrowers had to wait for a long time at the issue/return counters, as manual operations take a very long time.

Presently, the modern bar code technology approach for processing books is reducing operational costs and time, the operational staff too can devote more time to users’ requirements and interact with them.

The users’ feedback too was positive towards this technique.

Applications….

Bar code technology was applied in 2 prominent areas of library operations:

Circulation servicesStack taking

Bar Codes ID Cards

The library users were admitted to the library only on production of ID Cards (alpha numerical). These were with the bar codes transferring the ID numbers into bar codes. The ID Cards were prepared with details like name, address, duration and photograph with signature on the reverse side. The borrowing capacity of the users too was indicated here.

Bar Code Labels on Reading Materials

Bar Coding of books means transferring the accession number of the book into bar code using a specific software.

Bar Coded labels designed with a required size ranging from 19mm to 114 mm width. These labels were pasted in the book.

The label contain- name of the library, bar code, accession number and call number

How it worked in Lib Environment…

Circulation counter- while issuing and returning books, the ID card alongwith books were scanned. The entry for issuing and receiving the books were thus entered with greater speed and accuracy. Books without bar-coded labels cannot be picked out easily from the stack.

Stack Taking- the Data capture unit were used to scan the available bar coded books in the library at the point of time and it can be verified with the list of books under circulation within short span of time.

BARCODING IN LIBRARIES …

DATABASE PROGRAM LINKS THE BAR CODE TO BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF DOCUMENTS

AUTHORISED ID CARD INCLUDES BAR CODE Card could be used by library Institutional ID card

BAR CODE READER INTERFACED TO COMPUTER

TRACKING OF BOOKS

ADVANTAGES OF BAR CODE IN LIBRARIES

Quick and error free entry of access and membership codes

Ensures total integrity of collected data No queuing up at check out/check in

counters Avoids piling up of data entry work for

counter staff Aids generation of suitable reminders to

delinquent borrowers Stock verification made easy

Benefits…(IIM Library)

Bar-coding leads to efficient and error free circulation activities.

Improved relations between borrowers and staff

Saved the time of the users More transactions was handled by a single

person No need of borrower tickets Maintenance costs were minimized Improved information availability

RFID

RFID is a flexible technology that allows businesses to close the gap between acquiring data, converting it to meaningful information, and automating all associated transactions. It can provide traceability and real-time control to meet customer and regulatory requirements while actually improving efficiency and profitability. RFID can be read-only or read / write, does not require contact or line-of-sight to operate, can function under a variety of environmental conditions, and provides a high level of data integrity. In addition, because the technology is difficult to counterfeit, RFID provides a high level of security.

Advantages of RFID Versus Barcodes

RFID tags and barcodes both carry information about products. However, there are important differences between these two technologies:

Barcode readers require a direct line of sight to the printed barcode; RFID readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or passive RFID tags.

RFID tags can be read at much greater distances; an RFID reader can pull information from a tag at distances up to 300 feet. The range to read a barcode is much less, typically no more than 15 feet15 feet.

RFID readers can interrogate, or read, RFID tags much faster; read rates of forty or more tags per second are possible. Reading barcodes is much more time-consuming; due to the fact that a direct line of sight is required, if the items are not properly oriented to the reader it may take seconds to read an individual tag. Barcode readers usually take a half-second or more to successfully complete a read.

Advantages of RFID Versus Barcodes…….

Line of sight requirements also limit the ruggedness of barcodes as well as the reusability of barcodes. (Since line of sight is required for barcodes, the printed barcode must be exposed on the outside of the product, where it is subject to greater wear and tear.) RFID tags are typically more rugged, since the electronic components are better protected in a plastic cover. RFID tags can also be implanted within the product itself, guaranteeing greater ruggedness and reusability.

Barcodes have no read/write capability; that is, you cannot add to the information written on a printed barcode. RFID tags, however, can be read/write devices; the RFID reader can communicate with the tag, and alter as much of the information as the tag design will allow.

RFID tags are typically more expensive than barcodes, in some cases, much more so.

Any Questions….??

Thank You..