   |
   |
     |
<% Dim MyValue2 Randomize MyValue2 = Int((6 * Rnd) + 1) Set Conn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection") Conn.Open Session("trsa_ConnectionString2") MySQL = "Select * From HouseAds Where HouseAdID Like '%" & MyValue2 & "%' " Set Conn = Conn.Execute(MySQL) %>
 |
An introduction to bar coding technology — what it is and how it works. By the IIL/TRSA Bar Coding Task Force Editor's note: A joint IIL/ TRSA Bar Coding Task Force was formed early in 1989 to develop guidelines on bar coding systems for textile rental companies. While work is still proceeding, the task force decided at its last meeting to prepare and publish a series of articles as a means of providing members with much-needed information on the subject. This article, the first in the series, provides an overview of bar coding technology and systems as they apply to the textile rental industry. Successive articles will provide an overview of systems requirements for bar coding, discuss the application of bar coding technology and systems to the industry, present case studies on existing work of the joint task force, and present recommended guidelines evolving from that work. An introduction for the skeptical Textile rental launderers have been looking at bar coding for a long time, primarily with skepticism. Many launderers probably first heard of bar coding being used by the military and by the railways to keep track of boxcars. Then they began to see it appear on cans and packages at the supermarket, until virtually every package seemed to have some sort of bar code on it. A few visionaries in the industry may have projected what this technology might be able to do for their businesses but, until recently, its application to laundry operations was only a vague, seemingly unreachable goal. As the years have passed and operating costs continue to increase, while competition and market conditions conspire to compress profit margins, launderers have had little time or opportunity to do much more than note that bar coding has expanded from the supermarket shelf to the drug store, the hospital, to the car rental lot, and so on. If they did pause to consider it, they probably noticed how many times the cashier had to scan a loaf of bread before giving up and entering the product number manually. And they experienced the frustration of spending five minutes on a purchase that should have taken only 30 seconds. If bar codes printed on ticket stock and plastic wrap gave that much trouble, they imagined how tough it would be to scan labels on heavily soiled garments. But then they noticed significant changes in the application of bar code technology.
In light of these changes, launderers became aware that the bar code had achieved substantial recognition because it offered a simple, accurate, and cost-effective means of automating the identification of items through the use of scanners, thereby increasing computer involvement in basic commercial processes. Additionally, this automatic means of gathering data that was previously collected manually, or not at all, had provided managers with new levels of information that they could use to analyze and operate their businesses more effectively. Within the industry, however, there were — and probably still are — many skeptics. The thought going through their minds: "Sure, but the laundry industry offers many more obstacles to the successful application of bar coding than do other businesses. We're talking about bar coding heavily soiled, often abused garments, not soup cans or pieces of paper that are easy to handle and track" Those skeptics might pause to consider the following example of how bar coding can be applied in a difficult situation. Researchers are constantly trying to improve the management of honey bees, not just for the sake of honey production but, perhaps more importantly, because these little creatures are crucial to the pollination of billions of dollars worth of commercial crops. However, the steady northward migration of African killer bees, rashly released in South America some years ago, may soon reach even this latitude. The African species are far less productive, yet they appear to quickly dominate hives into which they introduce themselves, thus corrupting our domestic honey bees. Their emergence as the dominant strain in North America would seriously jeopardize much of our agriculture. We have to know more about bees and their habits to be in a position to develop a defensive strategy, and we have to know fast! A key area of investigation concerns the movement of hive members — their frequency of flight into and out of the hive and the duration of their various activities. However, there has been a long-standing difficulty in recording these events accurately. How do you monitor the specific activities of a swarm of bees? The solution was found in an outstanding application of bar coding. A group of scientists succeeded in permanently cementing a tiny, almost microscopic bar code label to the back of each bee in a specific colony, thus uniquely identifying each and every member of the hive. Scanners positioned at the opening of the hive recorded the bar-coded number of any bee that entered or exited. In a matter of weeks, the scientists managed to collect highly accurate data that might otherwise have taken years or have been impossible to compile. Using this data, they were able to develop accurate models of the behavior patterns of individual members of bee colonies with and without intruding African bees. This data formed the basis for what is hoped to be a successful strategy to help domestic bees repel the takeover of their more aggressive African cousins. The information these scientists needed to collect is not too dissimilar from the data required in the operation of a textile rental laundry.
But the skeptics might still say, "Isn't it too complicated and demanding a technology to be applied to the laundry industry? After all, we don't employ scientists; our plants are full of basic wage earners." The response, of course, is that bar coding has already infiltrated the industry. Although those launderers who have implemented bar coding systems (to varying degrees and for differing purposes) are reluctant, for competitive reasons, to discuss their ventures openly, bar coding is being used successfully in the industry today and will expand rapidly in the future. The purpose of this article, however, is not to discuss the current state of bar coding within the industry but to provide an overview of current bar code technology as it applies to the industry. The first step in presenting this overview is to look at the bar code itself. Anatomy of a bar code Dark colors absorb light (and radiated heat) more than light colors. Bar code scanning exploits this phenomenon. A bar code is a series of dark and light bars— black bars and white spaces. When a light source is focused on these bars and the amount of reflected light is measured, it becomes possible to produce an electronic pattern that corresponds to the width of the bars and spaces. Oversimplified, the result is as shown in Figure I This bar code is an example of Interleaved 2-of-5, one of several widely accepted bar code symbologies. A symbology specifies a unique pattern of lines and spaces to represent each character, much as an alphabet specifies a pattern of lines for each letter. These unique patterns are added together, as letters are grouped to form words, and the result is a complete bar code. Since the Joint IIL/IRSA Bar Coding Task Force recommends Interleaved 2-of-5 (1 2/5) symbology for the identification of rental garments, a brief examination of the construction of this symbology might be appropriate here. Figure II shows the breakdown for a simple I 2/5 bar code, while Figure III shows how narrow and wide bars are arranged to represent specific numbers. Code density refers to the width of the bars and spaces of any code, i.e., the number of digits encoded per inch. This measurement is often expressed in terms of the width of the narrowest element in the code — the "X-Module," as shown in Figure IV. If the width of the X-Module is 0.010 inches or less, some people call it a high-density code. If its width is between 0.0 10 and 0.030 inches, it is called medium density; and if the bars are more than 0.030 inches thick, it is a low-density code. High-density codes are used on small medicine bottles and low-density codes on large shipping cartons. Extremely low density codes are used to track railway cars, rental cars, and truck fleets from remote positions. Low-density labels are also used for toll collection. Rather than stop to pay a toll going to and from work each day, in certain cities commuters buy a special label from the toll authority which they stick to the side window of their vehicle. As they drive past a designated position, the system scans the label, registers the transaction, and bills them for toll charges at the end of the month. Bar code scanning A bar code can be manually deciphered: However, most agree that electronic reading and decoding is preferable. When a bar code is scanned, decoding logic compares the patterns in the reflected wave with those assigned to each character in the symbology. By matching these patterns, the scanner determines what information is contained in the bar code. Over time, better and more consistent ways have been developed to project light at short range using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Powerful and very directional sources of light — lasers — have been adapted to the scanning process to facilitate reading bar codes at a distance, and layers of sophistication have been added to improve the ability to read and decipher even poor bar codes and to prevent mistakes in decoding. However, the basics still remain the same. Electronic scanning also reduces human error. The accuracy of repetitive reading of a bar code label is not subject to failing eyesight or the lateness of the day or the proximity of punch-out time or personal problems and anxieties. The scanner either reads a code correctly or it directs the garment for further human attention. Bar code number There is a system of expressing a number as a pattern of bars and spaces and a method of reading that number with a scanning device. But what about the number itself? How do we arrive at it? Does it mean something specific, or is it just pulled out of a hat? As with so much in life, the answer is, "It depends." One method of identification does practically involve pulling numbers out of a hat, the idea being that as long as no numbers are used more than once, they can be assigned at random. This approach describes our Social Security numbers. Looking at a particular number will generally tell you nothing about the person to whom it is assigned. But somewhere in Washington, D.C., there is a huge data base file keyed to that number; with it, the government can access all sorts of information about each of us. Another approach is to break the bar code down into pieces or "fields," and assign to these fields specific information. As shown in Figure V, for example, if the first four digits of a bar code always hold an account number, we can tell immediately to which customer a garment should be delivered without referring to a data base. A route salesperson can then scan soiled garments at the customer's location and leave a receipt detailing soil count by employee and garment type. The two-digit garment code in this format limits variations to 99 but, for the purpose of simplifying the receipt this launderer gives to his customer, he limited the list to 12 items, as shown in Figure VI. This still leaves the last six digits as a unique serial number, providing for up to a million garments. A variation on this theme, incorporating 14 digits of code without a specific serial number, might look like the example shown in Figure VII. Figures VIII, IX, and X are other examples of different bar code labels, some simple and some fairly complex. These are only a few of many bar code label designs used or considered for use in rental laundries today. Bar code labels How do current man-readable labels differ in appearance from those that include bar codes? To begin, let's look at a label applied with a machine that was considered to be "state-of-the-art" in the early 1980s. As shown in Figure XI, it measured a nominal two inches long by 5/8 inches wide and held all of the following information in man-readable form:
With this label, the trained eye can select the appropriate information for sorting, distribution, and data collection. At best, however, the task is time consuming and considerable potential for error is included in the system. There is limited room for effective label placement on a garment, particularly in locations where a label may be both man and machine readable — in the yoke or collar of a shirt, dress or coverall, or the shirt tail, or between the first and second belt loops of a pair of pants, for example. This mandates economy of space, which may be achieved by closely grouping bar code and conventional labels or, perhaps better, by combining them into a single label as shown in Figure XII. These constraints can limit the dimensions of a typical bar coded label to 3¼ inches long by one inch wide, which is enough room to print 12 or even 14 digits of Interleaved 2-of-5 code in a medium density and with what is judged an appropriate relationship between narrow and wide elements. All of the man-readable data mentioned previously may also be included, although it's not necessary since this information may be accessed at any time from the plant data base. Rather, only essential man-readable data — route, day of delivery, account number, employee number, and employee name — is usually included. This data is sufficient to identify the garment when and/or where the master data base is not conveniently accessible. The power of a bar code label comes from the bar code itself, which usually includes a serial number. This number may be scanned in-plant at any time to access all records relating to that particular garment. These may include not only the data which was included on the previous man-readable label but also such information as:
Some attention has been given to the possibility of "cradle-to-grave" garment control (i.e., maintaining a full record of each garment from the time it leaves the manufacturer's plant until it is sold, ragged, or lost). The Joint IIL/TRSA Bar Coding Task Force addressed this subject at some length, with emphasis on the question of using a manufacturer's bar code label to identify the manufacturer and assign a unique identifying number to the garment. Given the current level of market penetration and the continuing development of related technologies, and for other reasons, the task force concluded that a manufacturer's bar code label for the textile rental industry is not currently practical. The task force did suggest, however, that the identification of garments with bar-coded retail-type hang tags or adhesive labels would facilitate total inventory control at the laundry. Each garment could be scanned as it was placed in inventory, and the tag number simply linked in a database to the number eventually assigned and permanently attached to the garment when put into service. Production of bar code labels Bar code labels may be purchased preprinted or woven from an outside supplier or maybe printed in house. The preprinted or woven label, whether constructed of plastic or cloth, may be useful in providing a permanent serial number for a garment when the number is registered in a computer data base as in the Social Security scenario discussed earlier. Its use assumes that the usual man-readable identification label is also printed and attached to the garment and that, when encoded data related to the garment is required, the data base is readily accessible. An alternative to pre-printed or woven labels is the in-plant printing of the bar code on a single label that also holds the man-readable route, customer, wearer, and other variable identification. Most plants already use personal computers with Apple or MS-DOS operating systems and impact dot-matrix printers to produce identification labels. In many cases, adding the bar code printing facility involves a change of software or the purchase of an extra printer. The information imprinted is input manually, with the computer providing an incremental serial number, downloaded from the route accounting system when new accounts are made up. Ultimately, the choice of a bar code label is made by the individual launderer, based on the particular requirements and circumstances. This element of a bar coding system will be discussed in more detail in the next article in this series. Laundry applications How might bar coding technology be applied in a textile rental laundry? Figure XIII identifies points in the garment collection and processing cycle in which bar code labels might be scanned. These include:
In this last regard, let's talk briefly about automatic sorting. The grandfather of the current Joint IIL/TRSA Bar Coding Task Force was the IlL Automated Garment Sorting Task Force, formed about 10 years ago to address this issue. At that time, interest in bar coding was limited largely to automated sorting — the dream of being able to sort large lots of garments into delivery (man) order with a minimum of labor. That dream may not yet be a reality. Systems currently on the market appear to have the capacity to perform the first and second sorts, by route and account, but not to man order. However, with the increasing interest in the application of bar code technology to laundry operations, full realization of the automated sorting goal may be imminent. Back to the skeptics again. They may well say, "That's all well and good but let's be specific. How does bar coding fit into my business? How can it save me money, make my operations more efficient, and help me to compete and grow in this quickly changing business environment? How might the application of bar coding help my business move into the next century?" These are obvious and good questions. Perhaps they might best be answered with corresponding questions:
Because of the diverse needs within the industry, some launderers might not answer "yes" to all of these questions. However, most of them would probably agree that bar coding offers a substantial — and perhaps unique — opportunity to realize a broad range of operational and management objectives that might not otherwise be achievable. Other discussion points might include the value of an accurate soil count and the value of an accurate used inventory count. What is the value of an accurate soil count? It depends on individual policy and practice. For the launderer who usually acquiesces to the customer's resistance to paying for lost items, it can commonly mean as much as four percent of gross revenues. How many launderers know exactly how much used inventory they have? Without the use of bar codes, there may be some launderers who do have a description and specific grade for each and every used garment in the stockroom, have a recorded history of that use, and automatically tap that resource whenever appropriate. However, they are probably in the minority. Even if such a system is in place, there is a strong likelihood that the substitution of bar code scanning for manual reading of labels and entry of corresponding data can provide substantial improvements in cost and efficiency. Do you have to be an expert on bar coding? Do you have to be an expert to properly use the power of bar codes in a textile rental laundry? Not at all. However, you do need to ensure that you avoid mistakes that have been made in the past. For example,
Fortunately, the expertise needed to avoid such mistakes is readily available to launderers today. Those who have this expertise can provide the technical guidance textile rental companies may need, interfacing with the MIS department or with the people who wrote or adapted the company's route accounting software. Conclusion In an industry in which extreme profit pressure exists, launderers must reduce labor costs whenever possible, maintain stock inventories at the lowest possible level, and constantly monitor profitability to minimize losses. Information required for reasoned management decisions on achieving these goals is available through the use of bar coding. Bar coding also offers potential for automating such functions as sorting, billing, route preparation, and inventory control. The Joint IIL/TRSA Bar Coding Task Force is still addressing bar code-related subjects about which many launderers have questions. These subjects include the placement of the bar code label, automated sorting, and the economics of implementing bar code systems. C Acknowledgment Although this article contains some information that came out of committee or task force discussions on the subject of bar coding, it is based largely on material prepared by Peter Lippman, a member of the Joint IIL/TRSA Bar Coding Task Force. The task force thanks both the author and the company for which the material was prepared for making this material available. |
