In many industries such as food, drugs and medical devices, recalls largely come down to human error in labeling and coding. Adding coding and labeling to the automation process can reduce the risk of this even though adding this step into existing production lines and industrial networks is considered complex and expensive.

With the rise in smart factories and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) it is still very common to rely on manual processes and human intervention to ensure the right codes are printed on the right products, boxes and pallets.

But coding can be added to the existing network and it is not as expensive as it might first seem. In fact, in the long run it might be the wisest investment your factory makes.

Coding software can leverage data that exists within an ERP, SCADA or other automated system, to populate a label and push it to the printer without any manual intervention.

In industrial automation, there is a tendency to focus on the large capital equipment and not pay much attention to smaller intrinsic areas that could save time and money. Adding coding automation to the supply chain is one such small area that could have a big positive impact.

The benefits are substantial as expensive product recalls can be eliminated, and changeover processes become more efficient. Moreover, the knock-on effect of better compliance, greater productivity and fewer recalls naturally leads to a healthier bottom line performance.

When coding and labeling is introduced to the automation process, it can be maintained and updated with along with the rest of the production line with getPlus. The electronic software delivery tool integrates into licensing structures and databases—SAP, Oracle, and all others—to manage and deliver entitled and required software updates so that all machines run in unison together.