Better scanner software
After spending thousands of dollars on scanners, training, software, and printers, we were eager to use scanning devices on the shop floor. I was personally excited due to my large inventory that needs to be tracked. This was going to be the big benefit of scanners. However, the Data collection software was so useless, i now have all of the scanners in a drawer at my desk. This means close to 7500.00 worth of electronics is just collecting dust because of bad software. My biggest issue was how there is no way to change or set a default for what the scanner does after scanning. it is constantly needing user feedback as if it needs constant reassurance it is doing a good job. scan a code, validate the data, press enter, press tab, repeat. We now strictly use the computers and JobBOSS for ANYTHING that could have been done through the scanners. When there is over 8,000 parts in inventory, that is a lot of going back and forth down the aisles. If the Data Collection programs were better suited for actually collecting data, I would dust off these paperweights and put them to work.
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Nick Lindsay
- Jul 7 2017
- Future Consideration
Related ideas
You might want to look at using QR Codes. One posisble problem with your current bar code reader is they need to be able to read a 2D bar code. But that being said these readers are not very expensive (about $30 ea) We have switched over in the last 6 months because we were having so many problems with the standard bar.
Here are some things we tried to do to get the old Code 39 and Code 128 bar codes to work in our Crystal Reports. The canned Jobboss Reports use a modified version of Code 128. We are also using the Code 39 bar code which is the current default included in Crystal. The problem with that code is that it is not as robust when using a bar code reader and when we have more than about 20 characters the bar code is so long that the readers do not read it. So what I have been doing on some of our reports is to do a, “if then” statement that looks for spaces and if there is no space we use the Code 128 (since it will read better on the reader up to about 24 characters.) If there is a space we use the Code 39 bar code. A couple problems with the Code 39 bar code is how it displays parenthesis and commas and sometimes it will not even show the bar code if there is a parenthesis or commas. We have begun testing the use of QR Code bar codes with some real success.
We are looking very seriously at transitioning everything to the QR Code because we can have a very small landscape for the QR Code and it will handle up to 4,200 characters. The other big advantage is that we are able to scan the code right on the computer screen without having to print everything. Some of the problems; you need to purchase the QR font we chose ID Automations. There are others out there. You need to figure out how to scale the QR Bar Code so that all the data will show up in the code. You will need to create new Crystal Reports to work with the QR Codes. One really nice feature that we are working through right now is we can fill out the entire Data Collection screen with one QR Code bacause you can have multiple lines in the QR Code. When done correctly we can cut down on data errors being entered in Data Collection.
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Hello Nick. I use a 10" tablet, and the Data Collection URL to control, and manage our inventory. As long as your 10" has an 8MP, or greater camera on the back, you can use it to decode barcodes with the UCOM app that adds the scan function to your keyboard. Give me a call is you have more questions. Eddie Garcia - Steelhead Metal Corp. egarcia@steelheadmetal.com
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