Friday, November 28, 2008

What are the Differences Between 2D Datamatrix Codes and 1D Barcodes?

Usually a wide range of electronics devices such as automotive keyless entry system or home audio equipments are marked with a unique coding standard called Data Matrix. 2D Data Matrix is widely used by manufacturers to build an automated tracking system that is machine readable, durable and facilitates unique identification of each product throughout its life cycle. The ECC 200 2D Data Matrix codes are manufactured with the help of laser marking. They are one of the most cost-effective methods for tracking products and creating distinctive identification during the manufacturing cycle, sales distribution and after-sale warranty verification stages.

Data Matrix codes are designed so that they can survive complex manufacture processes such as broad cleaning and wave solder, without affecting the circuit performance. This means that the codes’ extensive use in the manufacturing process is widely accepted. The ECC 200 2D Data Matrix codes allow for a proficient means of storing alphanumeric character strings in a very small area of printed circuit board.

Advantages of ECC 200 2D Data Matrix codes over conventional 1D barcodes are stated below.

• Unlike the analog encoding of data in conventional barcodes, Data Matrix codes encode information digitally.

Data Matrix codes are scalable and can be printed in various levels of magnification. However, they are only limited by the resolution of the available imaging and printing techniques.

• 2D Data Matrix codes are the highest among all the 2D codes, enabling the placement of a large amount of information in a small area. They offer higher information density in comparison to the 1D barcodes.

• Data Matrix codes offer built-in error correction techniques due to the fact that they have a high information density. The features are designed to allow complete recovery of the encoded message in the Data Matrix symbol even when the mark is missing or if the symbol is damaged up to 20 per cent.

Data Matrix codes easily hold low-contrast printing directly on the parts without the help of a label.

• Data Matrix codes can be read by video camera, which essentially means that they can be read in any orienta

Friday, November 21, 2008

Ideal Submission Procedures of the IUID Registry

The Item Unique Identification (IUID) acts as a universal method of parts identification. Unique Identification is a system devised and planned by the Department of Defense (DoD) to easily distinguish one object from another throughout their life cycle process. IUID has become an indispensable part of DoD. IUID has been beneficial to the Department in capturing the value of items it buys, controlling these items during their use, and tracking counterfeiting of parts over different periods of time.

The Unique Item Identifier (UII) is regarded as the universally unique and permanent for the item during its entire cycle. The IUID is the key which assists Department in its efforts to locate, control and value its assets over time. Usually, UIIs are stored in the Unique Item Identifier (UID) Registry with pedigree data associated with the item. Though its IUID policy, the Department of Defense has mandated that all the qualifying items must be marked with two-dimensional Data Matrix which should be encoded with a Unique Item Identifier (UID).

Brief info about IUID Registry
IUID Registry
is considered the central repository for IUID information. It helps the DoD to identify the types of the item, its preliminary value during its acquisition, its acquisition time, its rightful custody (whether it belongs to the government or contractor), its marking process and other similar concerns.

As the DoD’s information systems have progressively become more web-savvy, the IUID assists with maintenance, integrating financial, accountability systems and the life cycle visibility of the items that are stored within it. Aside from increasing the quality of information available to configuration management, it will help in other important matters such as operational planning, logistics support and systems engineering. In addition, IUID Registry facilitates joint, paperless management of DoD property.

Procedure of Submitting Data in the IUID Registry
All the government manufacturing activities and commercial manufacturers must be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CRR) system before registering with the IUID Registry. If you want to do business with Government Furnished Property, you must submit data to the IUID Registry. The users must register themselves to acquire their login credentials and access rights before using the Controlled Access portion of the IUID Registry. In addition, you have to be a government employee or an U.S. Government Contractor with approval from the DoD Program Manager to receive login access to the IUID Registry.

How to submit in the IUID Registry

Unique Item Identifier (IUID) acts as a universal system of parts identification. Unique Identification is a system devised and planned by the Department of Defense (DoD) to easily distinguish one object from another throughout their life cycle process. IUID has become an indispensable part of the DoD.

IUID Registry is considered as the central repository for IUID information. It helps the Department to identify the types of the item, its preliminary value during its acquisition, its acquisition time, its rightful custody (whether it belongs to the government or contractor), its marking process and other similar concerns.

IUID is the key which assists the DoD to locate, control and value its assets and through their entire life cycle. It helps the DoD keep track of munitions, spare parts, and other items under its possession. Though its IUID policy, the Department of Defense has mandated that all the qualifying items must be marked with two-dimensional Data Matrix which should be encoded with a Unique Item Identifier (UID). IUID has been beneficial to the DoD in capturing the value of items it buys, controlling these items during their use, and tracking counterfeiting of parts at different periods of time.
As the DoD’s information systems have become more web-savvy, the IUID assists with maintenance, financial integration, accountability systems and life cycle visibility of the items that are stored within it. Aside from its incremental affects on the quality of information available for management configuration, IUID will help in other important matters such as operational planning, logistics support and systems engineering. In a nutshell, IUID Registry facilitates joint, paperless management of DoD property.

Method of Submitting Data in the IUID Registry
If you are interested in conducting business with Government Furnished Property, you have to submit data to the IUID Registry. To do so, you have to be a government employee or an U.S. Government Contractor with approval from the DoD Program Manager to get login to the IUID Registry. All the government manufacturing activities and commercial manufacturers must be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CRR) system before registering with the IUID Registry. The users must register themselves to obtain their login credentials and access rights before using the Controlled Access portion of the IUID Registry.

How to Maintain Quality Standardization with AS9132

The aerospace industry, automotive industry and medical sectors are concerned about direct marking and traceability issues. Thanks to the highly developed reading and marking technologies of the present day, the problems inherent to the conventional and manual marking methods have been solved by the innovative automated marking technologies. This is why the AS9132 standard is extensively used for Dot Peen marking of Data Matrix codes.

People who are new to AS9132 might wonder what this standard is and why it is important. AS9132 is essentially a new Unique Item Identifier (UID) coding standard which defines the uniformity, quality and other technical requirements for Dot Peen marking and other metal components using Data Matrix symbologies. This AS9132 standard also defines the standard criteria essential to ensure electronic scanning or reading of the symbol. The AS stands for Aerospace standard. It was originally developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Specific AS9132 guidelines with regards to the direct part marking of aerospace components have been issued by the Air Transport Association (ATA). These issued guidelines (SPEC 2000, Chapter 9) state that permanent part identification using bar code technology and, in particular, Data Matrix symbologies must be undertaken. The main objective is to mark a part with a ‘unique identifier’ to allow tracking of serialized parts during full life cycle of the parts and facilitate the use of automated processes in parts handling. Chapter 9 has explicitly mentioned data content although technical requirements or quality for Dot Peen and other marking technologies has not been mentioned.

AS9132 specifies uniform quality technical specifications that are required for 2D-Data Matrix symbols for direct marking onto the metal surfaces. This new standard AS9132 helps accessing the quality of Data Matrix symbols which are marked directly onto the surfaces of metal. AS9132 standardization helps evaluating the symbol quality and receives a PASS or FAIL based on the six parameters that are included in the standard.

The six parameters of AS9132 standard are described as follows.

· Symbol contrast: The difference in reflectance between the light and dark regions is the symbol contrast. But this symbol contrast doesn’t apply to Dot Peen dat a matrix symbols.

· Dot center offset: Dot center offset parameter refers to the deviation of a round element from the actual center of a cell.

· Angle of distortion: It is the amount of deviation from a 90degree relation between the X and Y axes. An acceptable angle of distortion is plus or minus 7 degree.

· Cell Fill: The percentage of ideal cell size that the element fills is called the cell fill area. 60% to 105% is the acceptable cell fill area.

· Dot Ovality: The extent to which round elements deviate from an ideal circle is called Dot ovality region. Up to 20% deviation is acceptable.

· Quiet Zone: At least one element in width, quiet zone is the unmarked area around the symbol.

Once the symbol quality clears all the parameters of AS9132 standard, the data matrix symbols now are ready to be used as per the Department of Defense (DoD) norms.

Monday, November 10, 2008

UID Laser Marking and its significance in the UID Registration

The Unique Item Identifier (UID) laser marking method has become very popular.UID laser marking is considered to be one of the most efficient and fool-proof marking methods used for marking identification number onto products. Numerous industry groups including ISO9000 and other international manufacturing standards have made permanent part identification and Direct Part Marketing (DPM) compulsory to improve the traceability of their items.

As per the DoD’s mandate, UID marking is compulsory for all the items to be delivered to the Department with a unit acquisition value of $5,000.00 or above, including all embedded sub-assemblies, mission essential components or parts that are serially managed by the DoD. Furthermore, the format of the mark must conform to the requirement of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The product identification must be permanently marked directly on the part’s surface as per the directive of the Department of Defense (DoD).

Benefits to the DoD of UID Laser Marking
The UID laser marking 2D Matrix symbol on parts or sub-assemblies helps the DoD:
· Improve their inventory accuracy,
· Accurately source items on property,
· Decrease inventory management costs, improve access to part history during the design or lifespan of items, and
· Reduce workforce burden through augmented efficiency and productivity.

Advantages of UID Laser Marking
UID laser marking is one of the most permanent, reliable, high contrast, and versatile marking technology available for UID applications. The increasing popularity of UID laser marking applications can be attributed to the following advantages.
1. UID laser marking is an eco-friendly choice to silk screening, chemical etching, pad printing, mechanical engraving, stamping and a choice of other costly, lower quality processes.
2. Laser marking and engraving are an exclusive method to identify and decorate your product items.
3. UID laser marking has higher resolution than other methods, which makes it easy for embedding more data in the UID marks.

For different fields such as medical, ad specialties, and automotive, to the latest in UID code identification, serialization, and verification, UID laser marking is appropriate for a range of marking purposes.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

What Are The Processes of Submitting Items to The IUID Registry?

The Item Unique Identification (IUID) Registry is known as the central bank of IUID information. It plays an indispensable part in the identification and classification of items that are at the disposal of the Department of Defense (DoD). Likewise, it also helps the Department to find out the preliminary value of the items during their acquisition, acquisition time, rightful custody and the marking process as well. The IUID Registry helps the DoD keep track of it’s inventory.

Unique Identification is a system designed and planned by the Department of Defense to differentiate one object from another through their entire life cycle processes. The IUID has become an essential part of the DoD. The IUIDhas been useful to the Department in capturing the value of items it buys, controlling these items during their use, and tracking counterfeiting of parts.

The IUID acts as a universal method of parts identification. It is the most important element which assists the Department in its efforts to locate, control and value its assets over time. In its IUID policy, the DoD has made it mandatory that all the qualifying items must be marked with two-dimensional Data Matrix which should be encoded with a Unique Item Identifier (UID).

As the Department’s information systems have become more web-savvy, the IUID assists with financial integration, accountability systems, maintenance and life cycle visibility of the items that are stored within it. Aside from enhancing the quality of information available for management configuration, it will help in other important matters such as operational planning, logistics support and systems engineering. In short, IUID Registry facilitates joint, paperless management of DoD property.

Procedure of Submitting Data in the IUID Registry
All the government manufacturing activities and commercial manufacturers ought to be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CRR) system before registration with the IUID Registry.If you are serious about conducting business with Government Furnished Property, you have to submit data to the IUID Registry. The users must register themselves to obtain their login credentials and access rights before using the Controlled Access portion of the IUID Registry. Also, you have to be a government employee or an U.S. Government Contractor with approval from the DoD Program Manager to obtain login information for the IUID Registry.