History of Machine Vision : Traceability

Traceability methods

Traceability systems have many types of methods to track products. The idea is to track a product with an identification symbol coded onto it, which communicates the identity of the product.

The main methods of identification include:

1. Letter/numbers and paper documents
2. Barcodes and paper media
3. 2D barcodes and paper media
4. Electronic identification (RFID and IC tags)

Each method has technical and economic advantages and disadvantages, so the optimal traceability method must be selected carefully for the target item. The functionality of traceability methods also continue to advance through the progress of information management technologies.

Food traceability and expiration date management

Not responding to traceability is a serious issue that increases business risk and erodes trust in corporate brands. In particular, the food industry manufactures products that are made for human consumption. Due to cases of bacterial contamination and other food born diseases, extreme care and management are becoming major issues for producers, distributors, and food manufactures to ensure safety and peace of mind.

Legislation is also being put into place in this industry. In addition to date of manufacture and lot number, three expiration date management functions have been implemented. The stock by date, ship by date, and best by date, have been systemized. This way, risk factors are thoroughly managed and manufacturers can control inventory of products that are near their ship by date or best by date so they cannot be stocked or shipped.

Expiration date inspection

Automobile traceability

Similar to the food industry, absolute safety directly connected to human lives is demanded in the automotive industry. Automobiles are not just built; when a severe accident occurs, manufacturing data must be promptly publicized, a recall implemented, and the cause traced to prevent further accidents. Automobile manufacturers and parts suppliers are beginning to actively use 2D barcodes and RFID as tools to manage the manufacturing history in the production and assembly processes.

As an example, for airbag related components installed in an automobile, saving a work history is required that can identify the serial numbers of the components used in a single automobile. By recording the serial number of components, the work status, and the inspection results in the manufacturing/assembling processes, it makes follow-up reviews possible. The system also detects fluctuations in operating load by wear of machines and tools from production line equipment monitoring. It can then perform adaptive control to track the details of defects per process and timing with equipment such as automatic inspection machines. Expectations are growing for use as systems that contribute to increased productivity and reliability allow the early detection of problems, decrease shipping mistakes, and shorten delivery periods.

Semiconductor traceability

Falsification of the production region does not only happen with foods. Fake IC chips in the semiconductor industry are also becoming a real problem. For the identification of semiconductor products, a production lot code (ID) stamp is normally added to the product packaging and are managed so that the manufacturing history of the product can be traced. However, cases of fraud have been recently increasing where the 1 GHz stamp for a semiconductor was modified to falsely display 2 GHz. The World Semiconductor Council (WSC) considers semiconductor authentication and the standardization of quality traceability as measures against fraud to be their most important issues.

The automotive industry, in particular, is extremely sensitive to this problem. If a fake chip finds its way into the ECU (electronic control unit), that automobile may endanger the lives of its driver and passengers. Therefore, direct marking has started being adopted where the semiconductor chip’s ID is printed on the product itself instead of on the packaging. Traceability is becoming essential to restore the fundamental performance and reliability of semiconductors that play a core function in our electronics industry, not only in automobiles, but from cell phones to medical devices.

Authentication of code inscription

Shipping label

Box exterior

Intermediate containers

Device storage containers

Printed on device

Device

Medical traceability and revisions to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act

One field where developing traceability is essential is the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Hospitals and pharmacies are using 2D barcodes and IC tags to thoroughly implement medical services safety management that includes product identification, cross-checking usage/dosage, ordering, inventory, and usage records. They are also being used in the medical industry as measures for unauthorized drugs to prevent accidents when administering drugs internally through shots or IV’s, and to prevent contamination from expired drugs or drugs that have been recalled.

With revisions to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, distribution and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals are being made smarter and more transparent through the standardization of barcode displays. These distribution codes provide information that includes product lot codes and expiration dates on individually packaged drugs and medical products.

The traceability of medicines and smart-medicine benefits