Barcode Verifier

GS1 Help achieve industry and governmental labeling regulatory compliance

Legible, accurate barcodes, text, and symbols have never been more important than they are today. Inconsistencies in quality can lead to recalls, rejects, process inefficiencies and downtime.

Barcode verifiers are standalone off-line or production integrated in-line solutions that include camera, software and precision illumination specifically designed for the verification of 1D/2D codes and direct part marks to ISO/IEC and GS1 standards. In-line inspection systems feature OCR, OCV and blemish detection that together provide 100% label inspection against a label reference image and expected label content.

What is Barcode Verification?

Verification is an objective, precise standardized measurement of the quality of a barcode symbol against a published specification. Verification is a method of analyzing a printed code against a published specification (like those of GS1) to determine:

• Whether the barcode is compliant to specifications and verify the data structure
• Whether the barcode will be read by inspecting the print quality
• It is a predictor of how well a code will be able to be read throughout its life cycle.
• An ISO 15426 compliant barcode verifier grades barcode print quality and data format to ensure compliance with specifications for:

o   Print Quality: ISO/IEC 15415, ISO/IEC 15416

o   Data Format: GS1, HIBCC

• Unlike a verifier, A barcode scanner or barcode reader will report the data it sees, but it does not have the ability to tell you that the data in your code is not compliant to your selected standards, or whether it is formatted correctly.

 What is the difference between Barcode Verification and Validation?

Barcode verification and validation are not the same.

Verification: Determining the quality of printing/marking to predict readability

• Checking code quality to an ISO standard to ensure that it can be read by any reader.
• Requires a “precision test instrument” (Verifier) that is certified to conform to a specific ISO standard
• Produces a barcode grading report and typically includes advanced diagnostics tools for printing/marking process troubleshooting.

Validation: Checking the content of the code

• Checking that a code can be read now by a particular reader and confirms that the decoded data output is what was expected
• Confirms that the data content and syntax are what was expected and/or dictated by standards/specs
• Does not provide a reference point on whether another reader should be able to read the code
• Does not meet requirements for “ISO Grading” found in many specs

What are the relevant ISO and GS1 Standards?

ISO 15415 and ISO 15416

·       Updated every 5-10 years

·       The only global standard for barcode quality determination of printed labels. Many other standards refer to ISO 15416/15416 for determining acceptability of a barcode quality. Replaces the ANSI “Letter Grade” convention which was phased out in 1990.

ISO 15426

·        Defines how a barcode verifier must be tested for accuracy

ISO/IEC TR 29158

·      The only global standard direct part mark quality determination replaces the former AIM DPM standard which was phased out in 2011.

GS1 General Specification / updated annually

·      Detailed specification for barcode quality, as well as allowable symbology types, barcode sizes, data structure, application identifier code meanings within a barcode. References ISO 15415, 15416, and 29158 for barcode grading methods. Have tables for use in different applications with specific barcode requirements.

Other industry specific standards

·        AIAG for automotive labeling

·        MIL-STD-130N and AS-9132 for defense and aerospace (DPM)

·        Many other regional or industry specific data structure standards