Bar Code Technology - Saving Time and Money

For those who are not familiar with bar codes, theyprices and inventory for groceries and items
are a series of lines black lines and spaces or variouspurchased everyday by millions of consumers. For
widths that stand for numbers and /or letters, andexample:o The most common is the point-of-sale,
punctuation symbols. The codes are found on mostwhere the items we purchase as consumers are
items produced today to uniquely identify items with ascanned at the cash register. This saves on labor
scanner. The scanner reflects light off the code and incosts.o Bar codes can be used for manufacturing
turn reads the information, translates the code intoindustries to track the progress of the stages of work
numbers and letters that get processed and read bybeing done on a project. It can keep detailed
the computer.information on how much product is being used at
Bar codes, or UPCs (Universal Product Codes) wereeach step of the manufacturing process.o Inventory
first used in 1974 and the first item scanned was acan be easily controlled by the scanning process.
package of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum (10 pack), whichTracking goods that are being shipped or received is
has since been put on display at the Smithsonian. Atquick work using UPCs compared to doing it manually.
that point in time, it was projected that there would beData can be uploaded from a handheld scanner into a
a savings to producers of good, of just under $1.5 billioncompany's main computer at regular intervals
but it turns out that the estimate was incorrect and the(commonly referred to as Batch). It also drastically
actual savings is an impressive $17 billion a year.reduces time and effort when conducting annual
Benefits of Bar Codinginventory controls and counts, keeping time
There are several reasons for using bar codes whichconsumption low and costs down.o Coding is also now
prove there usefulness:o Collection of data quickly- inused for security practices, providing bar coded tags
fact a scanner can record the information and enter itto grant access to employees into their designated
up to seven times faster than a skilled typist doing theareas of work. In addition to granting access, many of
work manually. The accuracy is also much improved -these ID Tags are also used to keep track of
up to 10, 000 times better. It is estimated that baremployee time sheets and payroll.o In the case of
codes make 1 error for every 3 million scan made aspackaging, bar code printers produce a sticker to help
opposed to manual errors averaging in at 1 in everyidentify parts and serial number for shipping goods. This
300o Scanning also reduces labor costs, relievinghelps in shipping and enhances the ability to track
workers from manual data entry. It helps to keepshipped items.o Offices such as medical and dental
better records of inventory and sales and saves timecan use bar coding as a means to keep complex
again for the worker searching inventory physically inpatient records sorted more easily. By coding the
order to find stock.o Access to information isboxes on forms filled out by the patient or doctor
increased as well as increased access to details aboutsorting through that information or compiling similar
inventory and products. This helps with decision makinginformation for reports makes this chore a simple and
when ordering and restocking items which wouldquicker one. The result is better and faster patient
otherwise involve making long tedious lists. It helps byservice.
keeping a tighter hold on inventory control thus helpingThe introduction of UPCs has changed how
to eliminate duplicate orders or overstocking of items.companies handle time, money, and makes them cost
Ways that Bar Codes are used:effective and more efficient.
Bar codes can be used for more than just flagging