Three Key Concerns for Barcode Verification

When you hear the term verification in regards to printing barcodes we are referring to much more than just making a readable barcode. Verification is a much more specific requirement for the quality of a 1D barcode or 2D symbol according to an agreed-upon quality standard. Not meeting these standards with your customers, be it Walmart or the DoD, will end up costing you in fines and time lost.

Lucky for all of us we have manufactures like Microscan who make verification easy so you can catch the barcodes that don’t meet the mark before they ever leave your facility. There are essentially 3 main things that can go wrong when printing a barcode that will lead to failing verification.

Verify Print Quality

Problem: Physical Damage or Distortion
Cause: Low printer ink, movement during printing, scratches, liquids or heat.
Result: Loss of product traceability data leading to errors in production, compliance violations, or customer fines.
Solution: Verify barcodes for ISO/IEC print quality during production.

Verify Decodability

Problem: Missing Barcode Features
Cause: Printing errors, damage or obstructions, improper barcode design.
Result: Unchecked products on the line leading to traceability issues, materials loss, and fines for noncompliance.
Solution: Verify barcodes for ISO/IEC print quality directly after printing

Verify Data Structure

Problem: Errors in the Data String
Cause: Barcodes encoded with missing characters or improperly-formatted data.
Result: Misinterpretation of product data, noncompliance with serialization and product identification requirements.
Solution: Validate barcodes against GS1 or other specifications after code creation.