A system for shipment verification – implementation in automotive industry
Documents compliant with content – Etisoft application decreased number of claims
One of our customers daily shipped automotive parts marked four different ways. It led to situation that what was in the transport and what was stated by shipment documents (Odette), consisting mainly of goods part number (PN) expressed as a barcode (1D) or 2D code, was two different things. This caused massive confusion by target recipients on receiving such goods, including situations when they received goods that weren’t even ordered. The company turned to Etisoft for help in creating verification system.
There was no doubt when PN stated on a label as a 1D or 2D code was exactly the same as marked on Odette label. But one of the recipients demanded marking with colour dots and number stamped directly on a part. Other wanted labels with text information together with colour dots and sticker colour. And there were times when product code wasn’t matched with Odette label code. Inability to match goods with its shipment document occurred also when both labels had 1D or 2D code, but they matched only partially.
Additional identification doubts appeared when repacking was necessary. This phase lacked Odette document since shipment preparation process hasn’t been yet completed. What’s more, comparing data from Odette document and from the product itself was verified visually and hence, heavily prone to mistakes, since part of the information exists as a code.
Our customer demanded that:
- Process of shipment verification is maximally supported which might minimize possibility of making mistake by the operator,
- Adding verification process during completion and repacking,
- Ease and speed of above processes realization and using proposed equipment,
- Ease in adding new parts, users and combinations by computer application,
- Full access to history of operations done by users.
The application we created provided our customer with two working modes which made it easier to check if goods sent are correct, verify them and complete. These tasks are done via properly programmed CipherLab 8630 collectors and Zebra QLN220 mobile printers. Every verification (either correct or incorrect) of data coming from goods versus from Odette is clearly signaled audio and visually. If the data is correct the signal is short and lights in green, while it is not so, the collector emits red light three times, long audio signal also three times, then long audio signal and vibrations only to send visual information about the error and stop. Similar control process can be done when we add or change any product in a package. Every time then, the system refers to a specimen entered as a first one. If printing option was activated, the mobile printer will print a label which should always be placed on a package with goods already verified.
The solution Etisoft offered let our client minimize number of claims received from their recipients. Also some other contractors showed interest in this solution.
(132)
