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<title>Autocoding</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Autocoding</span></span>

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</p><p><b>Autocoding</b> refers to software solutions that help manufacturers, particularly those in the food industry, ensure that products have the correct packaging and correct 'sell by' date codes, thereby reducing the number of Emergency Product Withdrawals (EPW). The term was first used during an initiative between Geest PLC (acquired by <a href="Bakkav%C3%B6r" title="Bakkavör">Bakkavör</a> in 2005 <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>) and <a href="Tesco" title="Tesco">Tesco</a> in 2001.

</p><p>The key objective of the software was to reduce the number of EPW's associated with date and price coding errors, and pot and lid marriage errors. This still remains the main objective of autocoding software, but functionality has been expanded to encompass <a href="Quality_assurance" title="Quality assurance">quality assurance</a> and <a href="OEE" class="mw-redirect" title="OEE">OEE</a> performance data.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>

<p>The concept of autocoding originally came from an initiative between Geest PLC and <a href="Tesco" title="Tesco">Tesco</a> in 2001, with both parties seeking to reduce the number of emergency product withdrawals associated with packaging and date coding errors. From here, several <a href="Software_engineering" title="Software engineering">software engineering</a> companies expanded on this preliminary work to create more reliable and robust systems. In 2004, 2D barcoding was introduced for the first time, a major step forward for the securing of all parts of <a href="Food_packaging" title="Food packaging">food packaging</a>.

</p><p>Prior to this, 1D retail barcodes were used that only offered limited protection as they did not cover all packaging on products. <a href="Data_Matrix" title="Data Matrix">2D barcodes</a> meant that lids, sleeves, pack could all be identified by a barcode scanner to check that the product is packaged and dated correctly. In 2009, <a href="Marks_%26_Spencer" title="Marks & Spencer">Marks & Spencer</a> introduced a code of practice for the labelling of products that stipulated an autocoding system must be used on every production line. In 2013, it was estimated that autocoding software protects over 1500 lines in the United Kingdom; the largest supplier is Olympus Automation, which protects 723 food production lines.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Elements">Elements</h2></div>

<p>All autocoding systems comprise a products database which contains standard reference information for each product including packaging type, labels and sell by date criteria. In most cases, a <a href="Touch_screen" class="mw-redirect" title="Touch screen">touch screen</a> <a href="Industrial_PC" title="Industrial PC">industrial PC</a> is positioned on the shop-floor to allow the operator to select the next product from a product schedule.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1D_and_2D_barcode_scanning">1D and 2D barcode scanning</h3></div>

<p>The shop-floor touch screen device is linked to <a href="Barcode" title="Barcode">barcode</a> scanners deployed to scan the code on each piece of packaging, including promotional labels and sleeves. Originally, the bar codes scanned were based on standard 1D codes, however, to avoid mistakes, 2D bar codes were introduced in 2004 so that each packaging type could hold a unique identity. To check that the scanners are operational, autocoding solutions include two way communications with all hardware devices and prevent the lines from starting if links are not available.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Date_code_printing">Date code printing</h3></div>

<p>To ensure that ‘sell by dates’ are accurate, most autocoding systems directly control the line printers through the software application. Once the operator has selected the product to run, the product reference table identifies the date range to use and the printer output is sent directly to the printer. Like the bar code scanners, autocoding systems include two-way communications with date code printers and prevents the production lines from starting if links are not available.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Line_stops">Line stops</h3></div>

<p>If any error is detected, such as wrong film/pack, wrong lid, wrong case, or printer fault, the line is stopped. This standard requirement is achieved through the use of <a href="Programmable_logic_controller" title="Programmable logic controller">programmable logic controllers</a>.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Providers">Providers</h2></div>

<p>Numerous companies provide autocoding solutions, ranging from standalone systems to comprehensive <a href="Manufacturing_execution_system" title="Manufacturing execution system">MES</a>/<a href="Management_information_system" title="Management information system">MIS</a> solutions that incorporate additional features and benefits. Notable industrial vendors include:

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<th>Product Name</th>

<th>Vendor

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<td>AutoCoding</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.xactcontrol.com">Xact Control</a>

</td></tr>

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<td>Autocoding</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oalgroup.com/">OAL - Olympus Automation</a>

</td></tr>

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<td>AutoCoding</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.autocodingsystems.com">AutoCoding Systems</a>

</td></tr>

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<td>Harford Control Compliance</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.harfordcontrol.com">Harford Control Ltd</a>

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<td>Sparc Systems Ltd</td>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sparc-systems.com">Sparc Systems</a>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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<li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4328473.stm">BBC News 2005 Story on acquisition</a></span>

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<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.engineeringmaintenance.info/editorial/magazine-features/11512-oee-measurement-enhances-sustained-savings-to-olympus-automations-software-solutions">Alan France, OEE and Autocoding Integration, Engineering Maintenance</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131004230838/http://www.engineeringmaintenance.info/editorial/magazine-features/11512-oee-measurement-enhances-sustained-savings-to-olympus-automations-software-solutions">Archived</a> 4 October 2013 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> 25 July 2013</span>

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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140903090143/http://www.oalgroup.com/autocoding/">"Olympus Automation Protects 723 Lines Globally"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oalgroup.com/autocoding">the original</a> on 3 September 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 August</span> 2014</span>.</cite></span>

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This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-02-26" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Autocoding&oldid=1277760317">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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