People who don’t know the answer to “What is inkjet lot coding?” should at the very least understand it is a system that allows companies to trace groups of the same product in the event of a recall. But, for those who want to dig a little deeper, there’s far more to learn about this subject.
Purpose
Inkjet lot coding is used so companies can trace groupings of a product, or lots, based on a number assigned to that batch. Companies determine how they assign numbers to their lots, but it’s often decided by the date the product was produced, the time it was completed, the location of its inception, or some combination of all these factors.
The benefit of lot coding is it allows companies to be responsive to recall efforts. If a product unit were to have an issue that necessitates a recall, companies can quickly trace and recall all the other units that share its lot number.
Printer
Many companies use inkjet printers to accomplish their lot coding goals. An inkjet printer leaves microscopic ink droplets onto a surface to create an image. A company can try several different types of inkjet printers depending on their needs.
For small-scale lot coding projects, it would be best to use the handheld inkjet printer. It’s shaped like a barcode scanner and operated by one person who holds it against the package and slides it across to leave the marking. For bigger projects, companies might consider inline or conveyer printers, which can print the same image many times over.
Other Uses
If you still want more answers to the question, “What is inkjet lot coding?” you will be happy to know it has more than one purpose. Beyond its primary use as a way to trace batches in a recall scenario, inkjet lot coding also has several ancillary applications. Lot coding can help a company identify trends in their sales and gauge the landing cost of their products.
If a company remains competent with their lot coding system, they’ll be able to trace which batches are garnering more sales than others. By comparing the details between the best-selling units and the rest, companies can determine the nuances that make certain batches successful.
Inkjet lot coding also assists companies in gauging a product’s landing cost, which is the amount of money spent to get a shipment to its destination. Lot coding gives a more precise way to trace a shipment than other methods, such as following based on SKUs.
