WHAT IS THE BAR CODE?

Bar code - is the range of the different width lines, which indicates code. It is printed on the different products, also on the labels. Information about the product could be easy and reliably brought into computer system using barcodes.

THE USE OF THE GOODS NUMBERING BY BAR CODES

EAN goods numbering system is devoted to the settlement and accounting automation in retail trade. Because of this system the customer service became better, account in cash became quicker, less mistakes and the job of the cashier became easier. It's easier to control the trade process, because in any moment you could receive all the information about each product from the shop computer system. Simpler is the goods expedition and credit procedures. The shop, in which is used the goods numbering system, the customer is guarantee that the cashier doesn't doing mistake, in such shop most of the goods ( not less than 85 ) must be indicated by Bar Codes, that is why trade people demand, that producers would note goods in the process of manufacturing.

The same numbers it is possible to use in the control of production process, in logistics operations, making contracts. It became easier to investigate demand of the goods, also to establish efficiency of the trader job.

HOW TO REGISTER YOUR OWN GOODS?

Company, which wants to register its own goods, need to enter to Association EAN Lithuania, which joins Lithuanian manufacture, trade and service companies, using international organization EAN International (EAN-European Article Numbering) goods and service numbering systems and bar coding. This international coding system was started to use in 1973 in USA and Canada and from 1977 in Europe and other continents. Now it is used in 90 world states, and from 1994 in Lithuania too, when established Association EAN Lithuania at the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce was admitted to the EAN International. Meantime there are more than 1000 of country companies in the Association, and this quantity grows up constantly.

If we will lead to the set rules, we could be guarantee that Lithuanian goods with EAN numbers will be identified in whatever world country shop.

When we registering the goods (present registration documents with main product characteristics declaring), we could present suggestions, in what order it would be better to create 5 figures goods numbers, that it would be possible to use it in the company too. For example, if the control of production system is already in computers, then we could insert the goods codes we used in the EAN number, which is given to the product by Association.

The numbers of the goods on the product are signed by figures and by bar code, which corresponding these figures. In this bar code each figure is signed by two different width strokes and by two intervals. All the information (name, producer, price), is necessary for the goods cheque printing, and is received according to these goods numbers from the electronic cash register, computer terminal or servers memory.

OTHER NUMBERING VARIANTS

1. The goods could be numbered not only by international goods numbers, but by the trade companies interior numbers, and also by special numbers, which are fixed to the goods which haven't constant weight. National codifying organisation decides or manufacturer and trader agree how to use these numbers. This is the way how are codified goods, which are weight by electronic scales with label and bar codes printing equipment. The labels are fastening to the weighted product.

2. According to the EAN system it could be signed by codes the goods shipments, so automation is possible in the goods storing and expedition operations.

3. EAN transportation label is created using specially designed destination identification system. According this system is ascertained what information is presented. In transportation label by bar code is codified information about the goods are sent, about sender and etc. This information is quickly ant exactly brought into the computer, and then it is possible prepare different commercial documents.

4. According to the mentioned EAN systems, international standard UN/EDIFACT rules it is created EANCOM, the set of the different commercial documents, which are used in electronic information exchange. Using this set, when the computers are connected by communication channels, different commercial operations are carried out more effectively and more exactly. So in that way is avoided preparing of the usual paper documents, decreased the humans participation in this process.

PRINTING OF BAR CODES

Ordering the packaging or labels for the goods, which has EAN numbers, it is necessary to establish size, colours and place of the symbol. This is the job of the specialist - designer, who projects the packaging or label, but the simple projects can do producers themselves too. In this case there are recommended to follow such references:

1. The size of the symbol must be the biggest (accordingly to the packaging or label size), that it would be easier to print, so it will be less possibility to do print spoilage. Also it is necessary to evaluate technical characteristics of the polygraph process, material, on which it will be printed the symbol.

2. The colour of stokes and intervals is chosen that in the scanning process the view would be sufficiently contrasting. You could check it looking to the model through the red colour filter.

3. Preparing the label for the printing it is necessary to have prepared good quality design. Using special computer program it is possible to project them and for printing to use special thermal label printers.

4. It wouldn't be misunderstandings if customers and those, who will print use the Lithuanian Standard LST EN 797-AC:1998"Bar codes. Technical symbolism requirements. "EAN/UPC"". This standard is prepared according European standard, so that is why we can follow its references in contacts with abroad companies.

BAR CODE SCANNING

Bar code scanning quality and speed is influenced by many different factors. There are few recommendations what we need to turn attention to:

1. Symbol on the product must be on the more planer place, necessary avoid small diameters and deeper than 12 mm cavities. If the label with symbol must be fasten on the small diameter cylinder form packaging and then symbol should be exposed along it.

2. If the label with symbol is covered by film, then it must be enough clear and close to the label, that the ray of the light of the scanning device wouldn't be dissipated.

3. Scanning ray wouldn't reflect from the symbol intervals, if this one will be printed on the transparent film. That is why before the printing the part of film under the symbol must be covered by light paint.

4. On the product must be only one symbol. In the other case it could be scanned few numbers, what erroneously will fix the purchase.

5. Using the labels printed by special thermo printer (the same labels are printed by electronic scales), it is necessary to remember, that imprint on the paper sensitive for temperature remains limited time, also it is sensitive for outside influence. That is why recommended to use thermal printers with ribbon.