Data capture systems that work

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2001

Q: What are the characteristics of an automatic data capture (ADC) system that works?

That's a tough one because there are so many different measures. It all depends upon where you set the bar. There was a time when companies were happy to be able to collect data from bar codes and send it to other departments. Then it had to be available across the enterprise. And now companies want to share information with customers and suppliers. So that means the measure of whether a system works or not comes down to its design and how well it delivers on its defined purpose and intended level of performance. The people happiest with their ADC systems are those that knew what they wanted in the design stage and then followed through with those plans.

Q: Is it technically difficult to build an ADC system that works?

Not at all. The ease of use and reliability of ADC technologies is a given today. And as a result, good design, not even excellent design, is enough to deliver top performance. To a great extent, bar code systems are plug and play. And it's not a whole lot more difficult to install and use other technologies like wireless terminals, and voice systems, and radio frequency identification. The technology of collecting the data and being able to transfer it to other information systems elsewhere is here. However, there are times when people can let the technology down. People need to use and rely on the systems but sometimes cultural lag gets in the way.

Q: How do you mean that?

I'll use inventory accuracy as an example. ADC systems can technically deliver 100% inventory accuracy. But few, if any, facilities are at 100%. The trouble is people tend to foul up the system. Consider this company I visited the other day. They had recently installed a bar code system. But the people out on the floor hated it. After watching them work for a bit and listening to how they used to handle inventory, the reason was pretty obvious. The use of bar codes had actually made work for them. It had made the process more complicated. As a result, people were doing their best to find ways around the system. And so it didn't get used as it should have been. To get to 100% accuracy, people have to use and rely on the system. They have to buy into the idea that bar codes or whatever technology is good for them too. That's true for whatever measure of success you want to apply to an ADC system.

Q: So, there are really three elements to a data capture system that works.

Yes, there are. ADC systems have to work technically, culturally, and design-wise. A system that works has to work on all those leads. And do it consistently. Remove one element and you've got an underachiever.