Ingredients for producing a successful barcode label
  • Printers - Of the most common print technologies (thermal transfer, direct thermal, laser and dot matrix), thermal transfer and direct thermal are preferred as they provide most consistent image quality and flexibility. The key to producing high quality and reliable GM 1724-A labels is to ensure your printer is maintained regularly and in a good state of repair.

    • Firmware - It is important to investigate whether your printer firmware will support the new PDF-417 symbology. Clearly, not all brands or models support this barcode.
    • DPI - For most eligible printers a minimum resolution of 200 dpi (dots per inch) should be sufficient.

  • Verifyers - It is essential that suppliers have some method of verifying their barcode symbology. Measurement of symbology must be performed in terms of dimensional characteristics, contrast (relative difference between light and dark) and modulation (consistency throughout the symbol).
  • Scanners - Suppliers scanning the PDF-417 barcode will need to determine whether their scanner supports this barcode format. The following table matches barcode barcode types / symbologies to their the required scanners:

    Barcode Type Barcode Symbology Scanner
    2D Matrix Code DataMatrix, MaxiCode, QR Code Imager
    2D Stacked Code PDF-417 Imager, Laser Raster Scanner
    1D Linear Barcode Code 128, Code 39 Imager, Laser Raster Scanner, 1-D Scanner

    Your organization may consider investing in Imagers because GM is moving to individual machine-readable parts marking to reduce mislabeling and to streamline assembly operations. The symbology for individual parts marking is DataMatrix code which currently can only be read by imagers.
  • Software - Not all barcoding software is created equal. You are required to investigate whether your software supports the PDF-417 syntax and application.
  • Label format - The format must be complete in terms of form and function.
  • Media - Suppliers must select the correct label and ribbon combination for their container type. Choose the appropriate media types such as card, pressure sensitive, removable, synthetic, tag, etc.
Benefits of PDF417 barcode

The benefits of a PDF-417 barcode (or 2 dimensional stacked barcode) in the context of a shipping or parts label include the following:

  1. Real Estate Conserving - PDF (Portable Data File) allows for a substantial amount of information to be represented on a small area.
  2. Product Tracking  – Track parts from birth to destination with vital information such as Part No, Lot No, Serial No etc. from assembly and manufacturing plants.
  3. Error Correction – The likelihood of machine readability is increased even on torn or defaced labels.
  4. Shipping/EDI – EDI provides shipping information between suppliers and OEM. A 2D stacked symbol would give the user access to information that would otherwise be stored in an external database. PDF-417 symbols are viewed as accompanying but not replacing EDI transactions.