Valve World Magazine September 2022 | Page 49

Identification
Fig 3 – Sample name plate data and QR code generation data text
material processes quickly and effectively via mobile phone , eliminating time consuming paper based processes , and provide real time reporting . Also improves field labor productivity ”. RFID is mentioned as even a superior alternative but cost is still a major issue for adoption .
Security concerns
Cost is always a concern . Besides the price tag , an end-user also mentions “ data security , storage size , and durability in a variety of environments ”, as mentioned earlier in this article . It seems that security concerns - as QR codes are machine readable - could lead to unauthorized access . While it is a concern , it may be argued that the tag plate information physically presented is anyway easily accessed although these data are usually basic . Another hurdle is the equipment needed to read QR codes . While a mobile phone can read QR codes , they are usually restricted in factory environments . This would mean special QR code readers would be required to access data . Unless name plate data are standardized by industry bodies , data presented in QR codes will vary across manufacturers . This would mean the software used to read QR code data will be specific to manufacturers and would be a nuisance in a typical installation with using valves from many manufacturers .
Standardisation
While it is not essential , it would be desirable for the QR codes to have standardization of information they carry . This would
facilitate easier access of data for products of different manufacturers and permit use of common software to process accessed QR code data . Valve manufacturers ’ organizations such as VMA , BVMA , IVAMA can effectively intervene and create a commonly “ approved template ” for the data to be provided by the manufacturers . Standards organizations such as ASME , MSS , API and others can also include recommend use of such templates in the valve standards they publish . Fig 3 shows a sample nameplate template and the information that it provides . With standardization , some data fields are defined and as such only the related data need to be stored . In the case of the other data , both the data description and actual data need to be stored .
Fig 4 – QR code generated from data text ; smaller size QR code is also sufficient
Fig 5 – Smartphone scanner output of QR code
Scanning exercise
In the example , data fields 1 through 20 are standardized and 21 through 25 can be defined by the manufacturer . The data shown in green are the actual values to be stored . A text string can be formed with this data , converted to a QR code and used as the name tag . Fig 4 shows the QR code generated for this sample data using readily available software ( see Acknowledgements ). Once the template is standardized , only the data fields need to be stored in the QR code as the scanning app can display the information with appropriate data segments to the user . Fig 5 shows the QR code scanned by a smartphone QR scanner , retrieving the stored valve data ( you may try scanning Fig 4 with your smartphone ; the smaller QR code shown as an example that can be accommodated even on small valve name plates is also good enough ).
Consultation
To summarize , QR code identification certainly has potential compared with the traditional tagging of industrial equipment . Data storage and accessibility would be improved . However , there are still unresolved issues regarding data security , assurance in readability and standardisation / harmonization , not to mention cost . There also seems to be interest among end-users but it looks like more work and consultation are needed . “ The benefits of ID-tech ( QR codes , RFID tags and so on ) are well understood for manufacturers ”, one end-user says . “ However in my view , these have not been presented well with an enduser in mind . On the other hand , as far as I know , end-users have not really specified what our needs / requirements may be for these , so more conversation would be needed .”
Acknowledgements
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the respective manufacturers for the pictures used to show typical valve name plates . Few insights presented here were obtained through directed small surveys with industry stakeholders conducted conducted with the assistance of Lucien Joppen , former Editor-in-Chief , Valve World . Conversion of valve data to QR code was done using the Android app , QR Code Generator ; the QR code readout was done using the built-in scanner of Redmi Note 10 Pro smartphone . www . valve-world . net Valve World September 2022
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