Manufacturing plants are usually bustling places where countless products and components are manufactured, assembled, inspected, and shipped daily. In the modern, chaotic manufacturing company, there's a pressing need for precision, efficiency, traceability, and accountability. A manufacturer needs to control and trace all processes, especially the supply chain, to survive and thrive in the competitive market. A misplaced part in the supply chain or an incorrect shipment could lead to costly delays, reputational damage, and dissatisfied customers.
So, what’s the solution? How can you maximise efficiency and traceability? Your optimal recourse is leveraging track and trace solutions like barcode scanners and printers. These tools can help ensure that every product is exactly where it needs to be in the supply chain.
In this article, you will explore the best barcode scanners and printers you can deploy in your manufacturing unit as efficient track and trace solutions. But first, let’s understand what track and trace is, why it’s important, and what makes barcodes an optimal track and trace solution for manufacturing companies.
What Does Track and Trace Mean in Manufacturing?
Track and trace in manufacturing is the process of monitoring the life cycle of products, components, or materials as they move through various stages of the supply chain. This system allows manufacturers to trace the origin of each item, track its movement, and ensure that it reaches its intended destination without errors.
Usually, track and trace technology uses barcodes, product serialisation, or RFID tags, along with data collection and management software to record and analyse each product’s movement and status. Employing track and trace systems enables manufacturers to manage their inventory, identify bottlenecks, achieve quality control, adhere to industry regulations, and satisfy their customers.
In simple words, these solutions facilitate supply chain traceability by giving clear visibility of products from production to end customers.
What Makes Barcodes the Best Track and Trace Solution in Manufacturing?
Barcodes have become an indispensable tool in manufacturing environments, helping businesses manage and track their inventory and products throughout the supply chain. Their simplicity, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness make them the preferred choice for guaranteeing product authentication. The following outlined applications of barcodes are what make them stand out as the best track and trace solution:
- Inventory Management: Barcodes can help streamline inventory management processes. Manufacturers assign a barcode to each inventory item, allowing them to track stock levels accurately and ensure they are always optimised.
- Order Picking: Barcodes enable warehouse staff to pick the correct items for the order. All they need to do is scan barcodes on the products to verify their information.
- Quality Control: Barcodes can be used to track whether products meet specified quality standards, ensuring the identification and removal of defective items.
- Shipping and Distribution: With barcodes, manufacturing units can simply products shipping and distribution. Barcodes ensure that products are correctly labelled and shipped to the right destinations, reducing the risk of shipping errors.
How Can Manufacturers Use Barcode Scanners and Printers?
Here’s how manufacturers can use barcode scanners and printers to enhance their track and trace processes:
1. Barcode Scanners
- Tracking Products Movement: As products move through the production and supply chain, barcode scanners can be used to record their progress. This data is then fed into a central system, allowing manufacturers to monitor the movement of each item in real-time.
- Verifying Accuracy: Scanners are also used to confirm that the correct raw materials are used at each production stage and that the genuine products are delivered to end customers.
- Inventory Management: Manufacturers can use barcode scanners to manage inventory, allowing them to quickly and accurately count stock levels, reorder materials, and track the movement of goods within the warehouse.
2. Barcode Printers
- Labelling: The main application of barcode printers is to print labels attached to individual components, packaging, products, or even entire pallets. These labels contain vital information, such as product codes, batch numbers, and expiration dates, which can be scanned at any point throughout the supply chain.
- Customisable Printing: Depending on the manufacturer’s needs, barcode printers can print different types of barcodes, such as 2D or 3D, non-replicable, damage-resistant barcodes, to store more product details.
Best Barcode Scanners and Printers for Efficient Track and Trace Solutions in Manufacturing
In this section, you can explore some of the top barcode scanners and printers available for manufacturers seeking efficient track and trace solutions:
1. Zebra ZT610 Industrial Printer
The Zebra ZT610 Industrial Printer is a powerhouse barcode printer designed to meet the demands of high-volume manufacturing environments. With its high-resolution printing capabilities of up to 600 dpi, the ZT610 produces clear and detailed barcodes, ensuring that every label is easy to scan and read. Moreover, it offers an intuitive user interface, making it easy to operate and maintain, even for those with minimal training.
2. Honeywell Xenon XP 1950g Scanner
The Honeywell Xenon XP 1950g Scanner is popular among manufacturers for its exceptional ability to read all types of barcodes, including damaged, faded, or poorly printed ones. With its versatile connectivity options, you can seamlessly integrate it with various devices, including PCs and mobile systems. Also, the scanner features advanced scanning technology, allowing it to capture barcodes from a distance.
3. Zebra DS3608 Ultra-Rugged Scanner
The Zebra DS3608 Ultra-Rugged Scanner is specifically designed to perform well in the harshest industrial conditions, offering superior durability and scanning capabilities. It can handle extreme temperatures, dust, moisture, and multiple drops from up to 8 feet.
Moreover, you can easily scan 1D and 2D barcodes, even from a distance. It can capture multiple barcodes simultaneously, enhancing your business’s productivity.
4. Datalogic Gryphon GFS4400 Scanner
A compact, high-performance barcode scanner, the Datalogic Gryphon GFS4400 is ideal for space-constrained manufacturing environments. Despite its small size, it can read both 1D and 2D barcodes, even damaged or poorly printed ones. Also, this scanner is designed for hands-free operation, allowing you to scan barcodes on the go.
5. Sato CL4NX Plus Industrial Printer
A versatile and easy-to-use printing solution, the Sato CL4NX Plus Industrial Printer supports a wide range of media types and sizes. Hence, using it, you can print various label formats with precision. Moreover, it features a large colour LCD display that simplifies operation and maintenance, providing you with real-time status updates and troubleshooting guides.
So, are you looking for flexible barcode printers? Get your hands on the Sato CL4NX Plus Industrial Printer.
All-in-All
Deploying trace and track systems like barcode scanners and printers can yield many benefits, from improving supply chain traceability to ensuring regulatory compliance, product authentication, and customer satisfaction.
Want to enhance your manufacturing unit’s track and trace capabilities? Look no further than Acviss’s Origin- blockchain-integrated track and trace solution helping you record, monitor, and verify your raw materials, components, and products’ movement in the supply chain.
Get in touch with our experts today and join the ranks of industry leaders to secure your brand in the market and gain the headstart to sustained growth.
