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Inaccurate codes create compliance risks
Manufacturers, especially in sectors like food and beverage or pharmaceuticals, face the constant challenge of ensuring every product is marked with a clear and correct lot and date code. Manual inspections are slow, prone to human error, and can create significant production bottlenecks. Inefficient automated systems often fail to read smudged, poorly printed, or misplaced codes, leading to downstream quality control issues.
These inaccuracies result in tangible losses, including the high costs of product recalls, rework, and waste. Failed inspections can also lead to non-compliance with industry regulations, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), jeopardizing brand integrity and customer trust. The operational bottlenecks caused by these inspection failures slow down the entire production line, directly impacting throughput and profitability.
The automated code verification solution
Zebra's automated solution combines powerful machine vision hardware with intelligent software to create a seamless system for code verification. By integrating rugged scanners and smart cameras with advanced OCR capabilities, this solution accurately and efficiently reads hard-to-read codes at production line speed and prevents downstream errors by verifying the correctness and legibility of every code on every product.
Potential Benefits
With Zebra's automated solution, manufacturers can move past the challenges of manual inspection and achieve tangible, data-driven outcomes. By improving accuracy and speed, you can enhance compliance, reduce waste, and protect your brand's reputation for quality.
Sub 45 millisecond read times
achieving rapid processing speeds
36-second setup
completing system deployment rapidly
Reduced product rejection
decreasing the volume of defective items
Minimized shipping waste
eliminating costs associated with shipping defective items
How the solution works
Capture every code with advanced imaging
The FS42 Fixed Industrial Scanner captures high-quality images of each product's date and lot code. With features like chemical and oil-resistant housing and IP65/IP67 ratings that make it suitable for rough conditions, this robust scanner is designed to withstand harsh industrial environments while consistently capturing clear images, even of codes that are poorly printed or on challenging surfaces. The FS42 is also equipped with advanced AI-based OCR tools that can accurately read text on rough, reflective, and low-contrast surfaces. This makes it particularly effective for deciphering date and lot codes, which are critical for traceability and compliance in industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Instantly read codes with deep-learning OCR
Zebra Aurora Focus integrates with fixed scanners and smart cameras to ensure fast, accurate reads of date and lot codes. It extracts and verifies critical data like expiration and lot codes, which is essential for industries like food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. This software uses a pre-trained, deep-learning OCR tool to read the code. It is optimized for speed and accuracy, capable of reading thousands of fonts. The OCR tool is pre-trained to read a vast number of fonts, including common sans-serif fonts like Helvetica, Arial, Myrid Pro, and FF DIN.
Accelerate verification with AI-powered processing
The NS42 is equipped with AI-derived tools designed to capture text information from parts on production lines or labels on boxes without the need for font training. This feature supports high-speed, accurate character reading for mission-critical applications. NS42 is equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) specifically designed for AI and deep learning tasks. This allows the OCR tool to achieve incredibly fast read times, with some as low as 43 to 75 milliseconds, enabling real-time verification at full production speed without compromising accuracy.
The value of automated date and lot code Verification
By automating your date and lot code verification process, you can significantly reduce errors and operational costs while improving throughput. This investment strengthens compliance, enhances product traceability, and delivers a fast, measurable return.
Note:
Use case figures and savings estimates are illustrative only and may be derived from customer data, projections, or controlled testing. They do not represent guaranteed results, and actual outcomes will vary by application; customers should consult a Zebra sales representative to evaluate their specific environment.
