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Symbol Graphics Bar Code Solutions

Symbol Graphics Inc. a PC software developer for Roland vinyl cutters and engravers, has developed a unique and inexpensive software solution for asset inventory management. Honeywell International approached Symbol Graphics with a request to help solve an inventory control and tracking bar code problem. Facility Operations needed a more effective and permanent way to tag their factory and facility assets. This tagging was to identify each asset with a bar coded property control number along with visually readable information including the control number and the manufacturer's model and serial number. In the past, multiple methods of stick on tags had been utilized including typed foil tags, printed plastic and computer generated paper tags. Adverse conditions such as exposure to machine oils, solvents, water, heat and chemicals would cause tags to fall off or fade and become unreadable. Tags lasted no more than a couple of years. Tag maintenance was becoming an expensive annoyance.

Facility Operations presented the tagging problem to various vendors for price quotes, with most turning the project down due to their lack of proper equipment to produce the required bar code. The few that remained provided pricing quotes within the range of $2.00 to $5.00 per tag. Those price quotes were not acceptable due to the quantity of tags needed for the 2200 pieces of equipment. The approximate cost was $11,000.

It was decided to investigate an alternative method of producing these tags in house. Searching the Internet, they found Roland's desktop computer controlled engraving machines and Symbol Graphics, a Roland dealer. After discussing the specialized requirements, Symbol Graphics became interested in helping Honeywell by expanding its Letter-Art engraving software to include the required high resolution bar code capability. This had not previously been accomplished in the sign making business and definitely not for the Roland CS-20 entry level engraving machine. While the equipment and software costs were well below budget considerations, the question remained whether tags could be reliably produced with readable bar code. Symbol Graphics committed to the project and within 2 weeks had 8 different Bar Code 39 fonts ready for demonstration. An appointment was made with Roland to test the new fonts. After producing numbering sequences on engraving plastic with flawless scans, all were convinced it could be easily accomplished on the Roland CS-20 engraver with Symbol Graphics Letter-Art software.

Engraved asset inventory tags are efficient, durable and less xpensive. Engraved plastic tags are virtually impervious to any aging process. Maintenance personnel can also use bar code scans when they perform maintenance on equipment. With the Roland engraver and the Symbol Graphics software the total price came to less than $5000, a huge savings compared to what other vendors were asking. Material costs were reduced to about 20¢ per tag. The tags are being produced with no data entry errors using an attached file of over 15,000 lines of text retrieved in a few minutes from an existing Excel inventory database. The software produces an array of tags on 8" x 12" plastic. The engraver runs unattended with minimum labor. An additional bonus is that the system can be used to produce many other needed office tags, plaques and signs.

Symbol Graphics Software "Letter Art"