The Uniform Code Council (UCC), in conjunction with EAN Intl., sets the standards that oversee how trading partners identify, communicate and bar code products for use throughout the supply chain. The bar-code symbology designed for use in the retail sector is called the Universal Product Code (UPC). Like all other bar-code symbologies, the UPC has a set of specific characteristics that define how it looks, how it’s used and how it’s graded for quality.
UPCs are normally printed either on a package or on labels. Because no print technology is perfect, companies that wish to ensure a 100% scan rate at the point-of-sale (POS) must employ some sort of verification method. Verification of a bar code means checking the quality of a code against a relevant specification.
While it may seem logical to ask, “Can I use a bar-code scanner like the retailers do to verify the functionality of a bar code?” the answer is an emphatic no ! All scanners are not created equal; if a scanner fails to read a bar code, there is no way to identify why the bar code failed so that the problem can be corrected.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), following a decade of discussion among leading bar-code equipment manufacturers and vendors, issued the ANSI X3.182-1990 [R1995] Print Quality Guideline in 1990. This document clearly outlines eight reasons why a bar code might not scan at the retail level. This is the core idea behind verification equipment—to measure bar-code quality using the parameters, assign a grade between A and F to indicate overall performance (A, B and C are typically deemed acceptable in the retail world), and assist in troubleshooting print problems that degrade symbol quality.
There are currently three types of bar-code inspection equipment available: hand-held, PC-based and high-speed press-mounted. Whether a manufacturer issues a mandate to print suppliers or installs verification systems within its company, it is important for brand managers and packaging professionals to know that it is possible to determine if UPCs can do the job before they reach the retail level and compromise brand equity.
See the main story that goes with this sidebar: Bad bar codes provoke retailer penalties
