Over the last decade or so, the UK food and drink manufacturing sector has gradually become more aware of the term “AutoCoding”, and more aware of the costly problems this technology solves.
“AutoCoding” is the generic term used to describe an automatic coding and packaging verification system. Simply put, “AutoCoding” is a software solution that sets-up and controls coders and other packaging line devices to ensure the coded information, packaging and labels relating to food, drink and other products are uniformly correct.
By using an “AutoCoding” solution manufacturers can ensure their products always leave the factory in the right packaging with the correct label and coding information, such as date codes and allergen information.
By comparison, a packaging line without an automatic coding and packaging verification system is much more dependent on human set-up and monitoring activities and therefore at higher risk of human error. With no automation in this area, packaging line supervisors or operators are often responsible for setting up devices prior to the production run, which involves entering new data – often via a variety of user interfaces – every time a new job starts. There’s the opportunity for errors to creep in such as incorrect data entry or even incorrect job selection at the device.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to use an automatic coding and packaging verification system is that it can play an important role in product recall prevention. An emergency product recall can be catastrophic for a food and drink manufacturer, involving both direct and indirect costs (such as reputational damage) and, in the most serious cases, a genuine threat to public health.
Outside of this, another compelling reason to use an “AutoCoding” solution is efficiency. By automating the setup of your coders and other packaging line devices (potentially to the point where they receive instructions directly from your ERP or MES system), you save on downtime and reduce the number of repetitive, low-value tasks your staff would otherwise carry out on a day-to-day basis. What’s more, you should have the option to build on your chosen “AutoCoding” solution’s core functionality to add features like OEE reporting, paperless quality control, inspection reporting and more.
There are a number of suppliers on the market, some using “AutoCoding” as a generic term or other product names such as coding automation. To choose the right supplier for your business, we recommend you look at a range of factors like device compatibility, usability and features, availability of value-add modules, and more.
As a starting point, you may want to read our previous blog “5 Questions to ask your AutoCoding or Labelling System Supplier” – or, for a more thorough overview, our free download – “The AutoCoding Systems Buyers’ Guide”.
For more information, contact
Janet Harrison
