Labelling Solutions Seven design considerations
Designing a label verification system that meets the requirements of the cases described above requires careful consideration.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DATA!
The diagram shows the label verification server linking to an MRP server, a proprietary server, and spreadsheets. Ideally all the data would come from an MRP server, but it is usually a combination of some or all of them. Wherever the data is sourced from it is important that the following rules are observed • The data should not be duplicated across multiple sources; • The data must be the latest version available;and • The data source must be secure and traceable.
Food labelling errors fall in to two categories, systematic errors, and random errors. A systematic error is where the label and/or data is manifestly incorrect. Random errors are generally a problem relating to the vagaries of the production process, such as a foreign body becoming attached to a printer. Label verification facilitates this full end of line automation and is critical to the whole quality control picture. JentonDimaco label verification systems are the only ones that meet all UK labelling requirements and provide the data to prove it.
STAY RIGHT SIDE OF LABELLING LAWS
Almost all aspects of food production are subject to strict legal and customer compliance regulations.
Food labelling requires that many parameters must be checked, from the basics of is it the correct packaging, to the more complex of weights, prices and country of origin. Typically, this information is recorded at intervals (often every 30-60 minutes) on paper check sheets with labels then affixed as proof.
Companies that have stuck with a manual approach to label verification are often tethered to a system that generates little, if any, benefit to themselves over and above meeting their compliance obligations. A fully automated label verification system should offer several benefits over a manual system: 100% of the data is verified; 100% of the packs are verified;
The label data is verified against a known correct standard; and Both systematic errors (incorrect data) and random errors (e.g., misplaced label / missing label / print head contamination) are captured.
FUTURE-PROOF AND FOOL-PROOF
An automated label verification can deliver multiple benefits to a food producer. It can increase efficiency, reduce staff count, reduce waste, and improve compliance.
To achieve these significant benefits, care and attention must be taken when designing and implementing the system.
Simply attaching a smart camera and entering data into a local terminal will not deliver anything close to the same benefits. For example, if a lineside operator sets a printer up to print a use-by date of “Feb 30” and sets the smart camera up to verify “Feb 30”. Guess what? The so called, verification system passes all the packs!
In label verification there are no shortcuts to success. Yet, for those businesses prepared to make the investment there is the prospect of numerous benefits. Everything always circles back to one thing – It’s all about the data!
THE HARDWARE
This should be able to read the label concerned. In our experience “smart” cameras are to be avoided as they present too many compromises. Different packaging solutions may necessitate multiple cameras located in different locations.
THE LABEL TECHNOLOGY.
Currently almost 100% of label verification systems are camera based for use on printed labels. To be ‘future-proofed,’ systems should be able to use alternative media such as RFID and NFC.
THE LABEL
The ability to read many forms of label is important. As a minimum a system should have a good OCR to read text and printed characters, as well as 1D, 2D and data embedded codes. Many do not, instead relying on an off the shelf vision toolbox with inherent compromises! The ability to read encrypted codes such as those from MagVision can aid future proofing.
QA/TECHNICAL
These teams generally have primary and secondary needs that can be helped by automating label verification. The primary need is to ensure compliance throughout production.
The secondary function is being able to check labels offline to the same standard as the online system. An offline label verification system utilising the same data allows new products / labels to be verified prior to them going into production.
REMOTE ACCESS
Authorised remote access is critical for three principal activities. It allows remote technical support to help lineside operators diagnose problems on seemingly correct labels.
In Dimaco’s experience, over 85% of all remote access requests due to continuous rejection is a result of lineside operators working from obsolete data sources, such as printed spreadsheets. Remote access also enables senior technical personnel to monitor different production sites. Thirdly, it facilitates quick and easy on the job training.
THE SUPERMARKET
Providing the capability to respond to changing requirements. In many applications it is common for pricing to change during a production run. If this happens then it is essential that the label verification is automatically updated.
30
April 2023
www.convertermag.com
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