Barcode reading between the lines
EDITOR ’ S CHOICE BARCODE VISION
PRIME VISION
Barcode reading between the lines
Barcode no-reads cause delays , increase manual processing and reduce operational efficiency , all costing time and money . ( Source : Shutterstock _ 170861873 )
From supermarkets to warehouses , barcodes are ubiquitous for identifying and tracking items . The widespread adoption of barcodes is due to almost flawless reliability , with read rates exceeding 99.9 % in perfect conditions . However , in parcel sorting , external factors can affect this almost seamless process , resulting in barcode no-reads and , consequently , rejected parcels . To limit such instances , Prime Vision has developed Barcode Vision , a unique solution that reduces the number of rejected parcels .
Sjaak Koomen , Senior Researcher at Prime Vision , a global leader in computer vision integration and robotics for logistics and e-commerce , explains more .
THE REASONS BEHIND A NO-READ
In warehouses and fulfilment centres , barcodes allow businesses to identify and sort parcels by destination . Typically , an array of five cameras positioned around a conveyor will scan the barcode , with the parcel then moved to the appropriate area . This is the case for most items , but a small number of barcodes aren ’ t read the first time .
There are multiple reasons for these noreads . A barcode may be damaged beyond identification . The surface of the parcel could be non-planar , such as a deformable plastic bag , a cylindrical item or a closed lid with the label placed over the top . The barcode may only be partly visible as the label has been stuck round a corner . Printer errors or low ink levels , as well as camera issues can also render a label unreadable .
SORTING ISSUES FOR REJECTED PARCELS
In all mentioned cases , the parcel can ’ t be sorted , which means intervention is required . The first option is to rescan the barcode , sending the goods round the warehouse again , reducing sorting capacity . If this fails , the item is rejected . A warehouse operative must rescan it or type the ID number , print a new label , apply it , store the parcel , and refeed it into the sorting system – an approach very similar to a barcode reading failure at the supermarket . This this costs time and money .
For example , in a real-world scenario , let ’ s say that rejects make up 5 % of the total parcel stream at a large sorting centre processing 40,000 parcels per hour . This equates to a drop in capacity to 38,000 parcels per hour . However , it also means that manual handling is needed to cater for this 5 %. In this case , 2,000 rejected parcels are sorted per hour . If handling each of them takes 20 seconds , 11 employees are required to process all the rejects1 . The drop in capacity and extra investment in personnel adds up to millions in lost revenue every year - so reducing barcode no-reads is definitely worthwhile , especially for large scale sorting operations .
56 PECM Issue 64