Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Identification and Control Equipment

Identification and Control Equipment

Identification and control equipment is used to collect and communicate the information that is used to coordinate the flow of materials within a facility and between a facility and its suppliers and customers.

The major types of Identification and control equipments are,

1. Bar Codes

Information:
  • Unique bar/space patterns represent various alphanumeric characters.
  • Bar code system consists of bar code label, bar code scanner, and bar code printer.
  • Contact bar code scanners use pen or wand to read labels.
  • Non-contact bar code scanners include fixed beam, moving beam, and omni-directional beam.
  • 1-D codes are most common; 2-D codes enable much greater data storage capability.

2. Radio Frequency (RF) Tag

Photobucket

Picture (above): RF Tag used by WAL Mart

Information:
  • Data encoded on chip encased in a tag.
  • Non-contact: can be read when the tag is within 30 ft. of an antenna.
  • Tags can either be attached to a container, or permanently or temporarily to an item.
  • RF tags have greater data storage capability than bar codes.


3. Magnetic Stripe
  • Data encoded on a magnetic stripe that is readable in almost any environment.
  • Requires contact with a reader.
  • Greater storage capability and more expensive than bar codes.
For more information please visit the following website: http://www.hightechaid.com/tech/card/intro_ms.htm



4. Machine Vision


Information:

  • Does not require explicit encoding of data since objects can be identified by their physical appearance
  • Non-contact, but typically requires structured lighting
  • More flexible than other identification equipment
  • Less robust

Source:
  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID
  2. http://www.hightechaid.com/tech/card/intro_ms.htm