Date: April, 2016 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Reuben Malz

Packaging and labeling are driven by a number of factors. First, you have the ergonomics of the package, ensuring that the object is packaged properly ensuring protection, convenience, and the proper message is communicated.

Another key factor is its market appeal, the artwork, colors, and fonts that companies use directly influence sales. There is truly a science behind it. However, it is important to ensure that there are no errors because no matter how nice the package is, consumers will not buy goods that are mislabeled.

An error in labeling is the number one reason why products are recalled. Companies have paid millions of dollars in fines and penalties to recall products for simple product mislabeling; in fact, the average cost of a product recall is between 5 – 10 million dollars. Finally, the damage to a company’s reputation can be immeasurable and could amount to a company failing.

Inspecting Labels on Bottles, Cans, and Cylinders

To ensure the package is error-free, progressive companies now use automated proofreading solutions throughout the design and printing of the package and label. In fact, for every phase of the packaging workflow, a different proofreading solution can be used for inspection purposes anywhere from text and artwork inspection to barcode and braille verification.

To inspect a printer proof versus the approved artwork is a relatively straightforward job and done by most printers before completing the entire press- run. A sample of the printed piece is first scanned with a Roll or Flatbed scanner and then uploaded into a print inspection solution like the print inspection tool by GlobalVision. Packaging that can be laid flat, such as labels and folding cartons, poses little problem. However, until recently, packaging that is cylindrical poses a unique challenge to printers and their customers.

In the past, companies would cut cylindrical containers such as cans and tubes, try to get it flat as possible, and lay them on a flatbed scanner. This posed a few critical problems, the first being that you can never really get the sample container flat enough. Secondly, it is very time-consuming and can be a little dangerous. Also, you can severely damage or at a minimum shorten the scanner’s life.

Greater Inspection Accuracy with GlobalVision:

GlobalVision’s innovative automated proofreading software has been the leading developer of cylindrical inspection solutions for over two decades. The comprehensive quality control solution has the ability to inspect packaging and labels of the following: 

• Large heavy-gauge metal cans
• Ribbed cans
• Embossed text
• Rough textured plastic finishes
• Shrink-wrapped cylindrical items
• Aluminum cans
• Glass jars
• Plastic bottles
• Soft metallic containers
• Polymer tubes
• Cylinders

With so many regulations affecting pharmaceutical and CPG companies, the need to ensure packaging accuracy has never been greater. With GlobalVision, even printed cylindrical items can be effectively and rapidly inspected, safeguarding against errors, reprints product recalls, and the accompanying financial loss.

If you want to begin streamlining your label and packaging inspection processes, request a free trial today for GlobalVision’s Print Inspection Solutions

Also, learn more about the pressing need to scan cylinder packaging. 

Date: April, 2016 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Reuben Malz

Barcodes have changed very little over the last 60 years. For pharmaceutical companies, the barcode has taken on a vital role throughout the product’s lifecycle from original packaging to in-hospital unit dose identification.

For pharmaceutical companies, a barcode helps to assure the origins of the drugs, which in turn helps in minimizing the possibility of genuine drugs being considered sub-standard or counterfeit. Many nations are also passing legislative initiatives making it mandatory for pharmaceutical companies to affix barcodes on all primary-level packaging.

For healthcare providers, the barcode on pharmaceutical packaging plays a critical role in the management of the patient. These barcodes can dramatically reduce the possibility of medication administration errors as well as give the provider an exact record of the patient’s medicinal intake.

Linear barcodes are the most common type of barcode used on pharmaceutical packaging. For medications, the linear barcode typically contains the 10-digit National Drug Code (NDC) number that identifies the manufacturer, product, and package size. However, a healthcare provider may also use its own unique barcode to point to a much larger descriptor of the item.

Barcode Packaging: Beyond What the Eye Can See

During the packaging workflow, the difference between a correct barcode versus an incorrect barcode is often too subtle to be noticed by the human eye. Even a barcode that appears correct may not be able to scan properly. The end result is that any error in the barcode may cost the pharmaceutical company millions of dollars in recalls as well as millions more in liability claims and loss of reputation.

Ensure Barcode Accuracy

At the healthcare provider level technology will make the barcode even more vital for the pharmaceutical industry. Healthcare providers are currently testing medication administration technologies (MATs) to ensure the patient’s safety by linking the barcode to the patient’s electronic health records. If this new technology is widely adopted, then pharmaceutical companies will most likely face stiffer penalties for not meeting barcode specifications on the packaging.

For over 25 years GlobalVision has been the industry leader in barcode quality control technologies, their knowledge of the pharmaceutical workflow process has given them unique insight into the critical role of the barcode as a packaging element.

Barproof automatically locates all barcodes on a label, carton, or press sheet and grades each according to CEN/ANSI/ISO standards and even inspects and decodes QR, linear, 1D, and 2D barcodes.

BarProof is also available as an app with the Quality Control Platform.

Request a free trial for GlobalVision Barcode Inspection Solution

Learn how GlobalVision has helped top Pharmaceutical Companies in quality control.

Learn more about Barcode Types and Printing