You have never had a problem with a bar code, so  you don’t do any barcode testing. Everything has been going fine for years. Your processes seem to be nailed down; you have never had a customer complaint, not even a close call. All of a sudden it hits the fan. The phone is ringing and your best client of many years has problems with a bar code you produced. They want answers now and you are clueless and panicked. What to do?

It takes months to set up a barcode testing program in a company

You need to have a functionality in place and hitting on all cylinders that takes companies months to create—an established, high performing bar code quality program. But you don’t have the time. You need answers for your customer, you need solutions to a problem you haven’t even identified yet—a problem you did not even know you had.

Pre-Qualify a barcode testing lab ahead of time

This is when a bar code test lab can save the day—and if that day ever arrives (and I hope it doesn’t), it is invaluable to have a short list of bar code test labs prequalified and ready at a moment’s notice.

Here are some essential pre-qualifiers to look for:

  • Barcode testing lab personnel should have experience in engineering-level knowledge in bar code quality, and should be familiar with the ANSI/ISO specification for the print quality of linear bar codes as well as the newer 2D and matrix symbologies. They should know how bar codes are structured, what makes them work and why they fail.
  • Barcode testing services should be scalable. They should be able to do as little or as much as you want just as fast as you need.
  • The barcode testing lab should not try to scare you or sell you more than you need or want. Their goal should be to apply the verification report to your specific printing process so you know what to do to improve your bar codes. Every business loves loyal customers, but a bar code test lab’s job is to train you to no longer need them.
  • Confidentiality is a large part of the bar code testing service. With or without a signed non-disclosure agreements, a reputable bar code test lab’s behavior should be consistently and unwaveringly discrete.
  • The barcode testing lab should communicate in plain English. The verification report is full of technical terminology. The bar code test lab’s job is to connect the dots from the verification report to your method of printing so you know what happened and what to do about it.
  • A barcode testing lab should respond quickly. You should be able to schedule lab time based on when your samples will arrive. Verification reports should be generated within hours and lab reports sent no later than the next business day.
  • Follow-up consultations should be included.

If this is what you are looking for, or if you just want to know more, contact us. We can share generic Summary Reports and Final Reports so you can see what we do—and pricing schedules so you can see what we charge.

 

Recommended Posts

3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager