Rugged devices are mission critical in a tough environment, like manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and transportation and logistics. Between the bumps, drops, and tumbles on hard surfaces to exposure to extreme temperatures, hardware like barcode scanners needs to be tougher than the conditions where they’re used.
Zebra has long been known for rugged reliability for barcode scanners, thermal printers, mobile computers, and other enterprise technology. So, it was a bit of surprise when they introduced something even tougher than the rugged barcode scanners that have served their purpose admirably.
The Zebra 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series of barcode scanners raises the bar once again. These power tools manage to surpass any standard. Drop a 3600 in a bucket of water (and leave it there for up to 30 minutes) or spray it with a hose. Use it in searing heat or freezing cold. Drop it 8 feet onto a concrete floor. It will keep working. Zebra’s Ultra-Rugged barcode scanners are the only ones with two sealing ratings: IP65 and IP67 (and the only barcode scanner with an IP67 rating).
Yes, it’s tough, but the 3600 is also a top performer. Use it to scan scratched, dirty, or damaged barcodes with one click. You can even capture barcodes under shrinkwrap or frost. This indestructible workhorse also lets you capture up to 20 barcodes with one pull of the trigger—from a few inches away or up to 70 feet—and one battery charge is good for about 70,000 scans. So, the 3600 Ultra-Rugged scanners are incredibly efficient.
The Zebra 3600 Ultra-Rugged barcode scanners are available in a wide variety of models, both corded and cordless (with Bluetooth 4.0 lightning speed). You can choose from standard range, extended range, high density, and direct part marks (DPM).
See the full range of Zebra barcode scanners here:
When you need more than rugged barcode scanners, talk to us at Informs about Zebra’s 3600 Ultra-Rugged Series.
The linear barcode is a great data collection tool, up to a point. When you need more than a product’s SKU, description, and price—e.g., production information, serial number, lot, batch number—you need a 2D barcode, which can contain up to 4,000 characters. A 1D barcode is limited to about 25 characters.
With the need for more data, including compliance and track-and-trace issues, 2D barcodes are becoming more widely adopted. However, with this technology, you’ll need a 2D imager, instead of a 1D barcode scanner.
A barcode scanner utilizes a single laser to read the linear barcode on a paper surface, like a label or tag. A 2D imager uses a array of lasers that capture both 1D and 2D barcodes from a variety of surfaces, including paper and electronic screens. In our last post, we talked about the many uses of 2D barcodes, now let’s explore the benefits of 2D barcode scanning.
Capture 1D and 2D barcodes from a paper, synthetic media, and electronic screens.
Read barcodes that are smudged, scratched, damaged, or poorly printed. Some of Zebra’s rugged and ultra-rugged imagers will also capture barcodes that are covered with shrinkwrap or frost.
An imager’s omnidirectional scanning means you don’t need to take the time to align a single laser to the barcode, so productivity is increased.
By choosing an extended range 2D imager, you can grab barcodes from as far away as 7 feet, or as close as just a few inches—perfect for retail, distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics.
With one pull of the 2D imager’s trigger, you can capture multiple barcodes, reducing the time it takes to process an inbound or outbound shipment.
In addition to barcodes, you can capture signatures, documents, images, direct part marks, and text. A 2D imager also supports Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to read characters on checks, passports, driver’s licenses, invoices, and more.
Informs has partnered with Zebra, a global leader in data collection technology. We can help you determine the right 2D imager for your business applications. Talk to us to learn more Zebra’s barcode scanning advances and how you can increase productivity and accuracy.
People often ask us why they should use 2D barcodes—the small, patterned squares that are showing up more frequently on products, advertisements, signs, and more.
The answer to “why” is usually paired with “how.” In some applications, this technology can seem a little dated, but the truth is that 2D barcodes are now an integral part of data collection processes. Coupled with modern scanning technology, the 2D barcode can be a good choice for warehouses, manufacturers, mobile field work, and more.
A little background
A QR code is a 2D barcode that originated with Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, to track vehicles through assembly. It was later followed by a Data Matrix 2D code, PDF417, and Aztec. QR and Data Matrix are most commonly used for retail, manufacturing, logistics, government, entertainment, healthcare, marketing, and advertising. The PDF417 can hold more the1.1 KB of data and is often used for photos, fingerprints, signatures, and graphics. The Aztec has been adopted by airlines for boarding passes.
Linear barcodes (1D), simply couldn’t carry enough data (about 20-25 characters). 2D barcodes can store up to 4,000 characters.
The “why” and “how”
A 1D barcode provides information. Think of a 2D barcode as a guide. A scan of this barcode takes you to a landing page, website, brochure, contact information, instruction manual, coupon, special offer, article, social media page, or other digital content.
As a marketing, sales, or technical support tool, a QR code or Data Matrix code makes it easy for your customers to connect with you. And when they scan the code, you collect important data to follow the traffic.
Here are some ways that businesses are using 2D barcodes:
Business card or convention nametag, which connects to the company’s website or the professional’s contact information and LinkedIn profile.
Signs on trucks, trailers, property for sale, and at promotional venues
Brochures, posters, ads, and promotional materials
Point-of-sale receipts that direct the user to a survey, prize drawing, special offer, or coupon
Product packaging and tags, to provide additional information, including warranty registration, installation help, and troubleshooting instructions
Patient wristbands and medications
Event tickets and boarding passes
Event invitation to direct the guest to RSVP or registration page
Most smartphones can scan a 2D code, either using the phone’s camera or a mobile app. Businesses that rely on automated data collection require a heavy volume of scanning, so we recommend the use of a 2D scanner, which can read both 1D and 2D barcodes. For the broadest variety of 2D imagers, we recommend Zebra, for the durability, performance, and ease of use.
When you’re ready to take advantage of QR codes for your business, talk to us at Informs. We have offices throughout the United States, ensuring you get personal service, no matter when you call.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a system to adequately identify medical devices through distribution and use. This rule requires the label of these devices to include a unique device identifier (UDI), unless there is some sort of exception. The system basically requires that the label and packaging include a UDI in both text and machine-readable (i.e., barcode) form. In the event that a device is intended to be used more than once, the FDA requires that the UDI be marked directly on the device.
Device labelers must also submit certain information about each device to FDA’s Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID).
This device ID system offers a number of benefits; it will work to improve patient safety, encourage technology innovation, and help modernize device surveillance (post-market) as it pertains to pre-market approval or new uses for existing devices .
UDI Compliance
Class I and unclassified devices will have to meet UDI labeling, GUDID data submission and standard date formatting rules by September 24, 2020. The new deadlines do not apply to Class I or unclassified devices that are implantable, life-supporting or life-sustaining.
Approximately 1.4 million records have already been submitted to the FDA’s Global Unique Device Identification Database (GUDID) as of May 1, 2017. However, UDI implementation for higher-risk devices has created some technical and policy challenges for both FDA regulators and registrants, so by extending the UDI labeling timelines for low-risk devices they can address and remedy the challenges before more data is collected.
The FDA classifies medical devices based on the risks associated with the device. Devices are classified into one of three categories—Class I, Class II, and Class III.
Class I devices are deemed to be low risk and subject to minimal regulatory controls. Dental floss, for example, is classified as a Class I device.
Class II devices are higher risk devices requiring more controls in order to provide a reasonable confidence that the device is safe and effective. For example, pregnancy test kits are classified as Class II devices.
Class III devices are largely higher-risk devices subject to a much higher level of regulatory control. Class III devices must go through the FDA for approval before being released to the market. Implantable pacemakers are considered Class III devices.
Benefits of the UDI system
The Unique Device Identification (UDI) System opens up a number of benefits to the healthcare system, consumers, providers, the industry as a whole, and the FDA:
More accurate reporting; with the ability to analyze reports to identify and resolve issues quickly and effectively.
Greater opportunity to reduce medical errors caused by misidentification of devices, or to assist with access to detailed information about the device.
A clear standard that allows these entities to document device use; this applies to EHR (electronic health records), clinical information systems, registries, etc.
A unique and standardized identifier enables manufacturers, distributors and healthcare facilities to better manage device recalls.
For more information on UDI or if you need guidance preparing for labeling requirements, be sure to contact us.
The FDA recently enacted new rules for food labels. The rules go into effect on July 26, 2018 for manufacturers with sales over $10 million. For manufacturers whose sales fall below that threshold, such as small manufacturers, or convenience stores and fitness clubs who package food on site, or commissaries that prepare and package foods sold in convenience stores, will have an additional year to comply. The rules cover all food manufactured or sold in the United States after those dates. Here’s a rundown of the key changes:
New Serving Sizes Serving sizes have been recalculated to more closely reflect the amounts people usually consume at a single sitting. For example, the serving size of ice cream changed from 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup per serving. As a result, a pint of ice cream now represents 3 servings as compared to 4 servings under the prior calculations (now there’s a change that probably won’t get any pushback!).
For package sizes that contain more than a defined single serving but that could be eaten in a single sitting, the label must call out both the “per serving” and “per package” information.
The change in serving sizes affects items such as soft drinks that are packed in both 12- and 20-ounce containers. Both sizes are now considered a single serving since people typically consume the entire container at a sitting. As such, the values of the entire container must be used to calculate the nutritional values.
Larger Print Size for Key Info Serving sizes and calories per serving must now be printed in a larger, bolder font than previously required. This helps consumers to recognize the impact of food choices on their weight and health.
New Callout for Added Sugars Health experts recognize that it is difficult to consume the entire range of required nutrients and still stay within the recommended calorie intake if added sugars exceed 10 percent of a day’s calories. To help keep consumers aware of the amount of added sugars in a food, sugars added during food processing or packaged as sugars must be accounted for on the label.
Change in Required Nutrients List The new label requires that amounts of potassium and Vitamin D be called out along with calcium and iron. These nutrients are often lacking in American diets. Manufacturers are no longer required to list vitamins A and C since deficiencies of these nutrients seldom occur.
Updated Daily Values Based on the newest research, nutrient values for sodium, dietary fiber, and Vitamin D have been revised. These are the amounts used to calculate the % daily value and serve to help consumers understand a food’s impact on their overall daily diet.
New Footnote The footnote printed near the bottom of the label has been updated. The new wording is “*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.”
Calories from Fat The label must still include valued for total fat, trans fat, and saturated fat, but the “total calories from fat” requirement has been removed because research shows that when it comes to health, the type of fat is more important than the total fat consumed.
It’s important to be aware of and begin planning for these changes. We’re here to help make the planning process simple, and recommend labeling requirements and practices to ensure your success. For more information on creating a healthy nutrition facts label on your products, check out our blog titled 4 Common Food Label Violations + How to Avoid Them.
Your material handlers need to be constantly on the move to ensure the productivity and efficiency necessary to compete in today’s tough competitive environment. The most important decision you can make toward mobilizing your workforce is to equip them with data collection devices that enable them to quickly and accurately scan goods. Follow this simple, three-step approach and you will be well on your way to scoring the lower costs, greater worker productivity and a variety of other benefits of a mobilized workforce.
Know Your Options
There are dozens of possible hardware and software configurations, with any number of options that can take your environment to maximum efficiency or—if you choose a device that doesn’t quite meet your needs—maximum hassles. Depending on your environment and your applications, you will want to ensure you choose the right device(s). For an industrial environment, you may need something more ruggedized to handle a number of users and multiple shifts, for example. Or maybe you need a handheld mobile computer for picking and packing applications that is responsive, easy-to-use and light weight. Above all, start with a plan that outlines the needs of each area in your warehouse and build a wish list to identify the features that you need most.
Consult an Expert
Even after you think you know exactly which devices are best for you, it still makes sense to work with an expert to help you identify the various makes and models that match those features. A value-added reseller (VAR) can offer advice and guidance that you may not always get from a web search, they most likely will have plenty of hands-on experience with applications just like yours, and they may have insight about particular models or manufacturers that work best in your environment. Don’t hesitate to ask for references and on-site meeting to get familiar with their skill set.
While it may seem as though an online purchase is easy and cost effective, in the long run, it may be a poor choice. If you are making your initial transition from a manual to an automated process, you will want a technical advisor to assist with systems integration, network set-up, device configuration and security. A VAR with experience in your industry is more valuable to you than a generalist because they will understand the many unique requirements you have. At Informs, our average sales associate has 16 years of data collection industry experience, so you can be assured they have seen it all and are familiar with best practices.
Get Support
While most devices will operate trouble-free, users may need training, have questions or concerns. It pays to have a trusted advisor on your side to help you resolve any issues. At Informs, we understand the technology and the complexities of data collection. We know how to troubleshoot your entire system. In fact, we have a dedicated helpdesk for quick solutions to hardware issues. With an online retailer, you just won’t get the level of support that is needed – when you need it. The savings you might gain by purchasing online will end up costing more in the end in terms of downtime and lack of resource when trying to get even the simplest of issues resolved. With an experienced partner like us, you get seamless deployment, integration, and service.
Interested in Learning More?
If you’re interested in learning more about the best ways to mobilize your workforce, you can get started today with a free, no-obligation consultation loaded with free advice to get you started. Contact us today.
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