Printing Productivity from Start to Finish

White paper
Printing Productivity
from Start to Finish
How to Select Bar Code
Printers to Maximize
Uptime and OutputSummary Getting StartedProductivity pressures are growing, and businesses need to Bar code printers should be, first and foremost, easy to deploy. look at all their systems and processes to make sure they're as Printers that support common network communication protocols efficient as possible. That includes bar code label printing. reduce required installation time by allowing IT staff to easily add them to the network. Wireless printers streamline this process Bar codes drive many production and distribution processes, even more by eliminating the need to pull new cable for the printer. so bar code printing problems have the power to stop them. But there are steps you can take - beginning in the printer A bar code printer should be built to withstand the environmental evaluation process and continuing through their day-to-day conditions specific to the application for which it is used. usage - to improve the efficiency and output of your printers Industrial-grade bar code printers are designed to perform in a and their users, and thereby increase operational productivity. wide range of conditions relative to temperature and humidity, and are sealed against dust and moisture. These protections help This white paper explains how different printer types, prevent breakdowns, and result in favorable TCO compared to performance capabilities, features, label media compatibility, non-rugged printers used in harsh environments. A well-designed integration and support requirements can impact bar code printer, when properly maintained, can provide many productivity and total cost of ownership (TCO) for users with years of reliable service and provide a return on investment extended printer duty cycles or harsh environments. through reduced downtime and avoiding printer replacement.
Introduction Heavy duty-cycle bar code printers typically use either direct There is a significant opportunity for companies to improve thermal or thermal transfer printing technology, and each productivity by optimizing their automation systems. According has its own relative strengths that can impact application to data from the Warehouse Education and Research Council performance. Direct thermal printers do not require a ribbon (WERC), the median percentage of productive hours vs. total to print, eliminating the need for ribbon changeovers that pull hours worked at the average warehouse is just 85 percent - operators away from other tasks. Thermal transfer printers, on the meaning nearly one out of every six hours is spent on non- other hand, provide greater durability where labels are exposed productive activities. Best-in-class companies averaged to heat, light and other environmentally challenging conditions.192 percent productivity . For firms with below-average productivity, even small improvements can positively impact Printers & Process Improvementa facility's throughput and on-time shipping performance. Printers can also contribute to productivity by fitting easily into existing work spaces and processes. For repetitive, high-Because of their critical role in shipping and manufacturing volume tasks such as applying labels, saving just seconds operations, bar code printers have a direct impact on per operation can translate into meaningful efficiency gains. productivity. Chosen correctly, an advanced printer solution Wireless printers give organizations a lot of flexibility on can provide benefits beyond the reliable printing of bar code where printers can be positioned. A wide range of wireless labels, driving operational benefits that can help manufacturers industrial printers support 802.11 wireless LAN connectivity remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy. Choosing and security standards, and can be installed wherever wisely requires understanding how printer features relate to labels are needed, not just where Ethernet is available.real-world usage conditions, which isn't always apparent. By printing at the point of activity, workers are much less likely For example, the print speed specification tells you how fast the to apply the wrong label to an item or package. Positioning printer can print in optimal conditions, but is not an accurate the printers closer to areas where the work actually gets done gauge of how the printer contributes to... [download for more]