Automated Data Collection System

Like everything automatic-doors, windows, cars-we now have the privilege to use automatic data collection system as well. Automatic Data Collection or ACD is known by many other names as well such as Automated Identification or Auto ID, Automated Identification and Data Capture or AIDC and by many other such names.
One may ask what ACD consists of. You will be surprised to know that bar-coding, voice systems, RFID, OCR, pick-to-light, laser scanners, CCD scanners, hand-held batch, RF terminals, vehicle-mounted computers as well as wearable computers are all part of the ADC picture.
Many people-small to mid-sized manufacturers and distributors do not take maximum advantage of Automated Data Collection because of the fear of the six-figure project costs. If you want to implement cost-effective Automated Data Collection systems, you should have knowledge about the technologies available in the market as well as the amount of integration required to implement your project.
If you apply this new knowledge to the processes in your operations, they will help you in the development of the scope of your project. If you limit your project by prioritizing only those applications that will yield to you a higher cost-benefit ratio, you will be able to install them in a very reasonable budget. Take for instance the example of adding a keyboard-wedge bar-code scanner to an existing PC or terminal in your production or warehouse area. It is a very low cost method for applying Automated Data Collection system to existing shipping and shop-floor reporting applications. This type of installation is inexpensive and the only real programming required is that needed to add a bar code to the form (work order, pick slip, etc.)
ADC systems include bar-codes, vehicle mount devices, portable computers, hand-held devices, bar-code scanners, fixed position scanners and many others are being added to the list. Autodiscrimination is one of the many methods used in ADC systems. It describes the functionality of a bar code reader to recognize the bar code symbology being scanned. It thus allows a reader to read several different symbologies consecutively. Most scanners come with this functionality and also allow you to program them to read only certain symbologies (this prevents someone from scanning the wrong bar code when multiple bar codes are present).

Keyboard-wedge scanners are yet another system of automated data collection. Keyboard-wedge scanners connect between a computer keyboard and the computer and send ASCII data to the computer as if the scanner were a keyboard. More simply put, the computer doesn't know that a scanner is attached and treats the data as though it were key strokes from the user. The advantage of this is that there is no need for special software or programming on the computer. In its simplest application you hook the scanner up, make sure the curser is in the correct field, scan a bar code containing the data you need such as a work order number, an item number, or a location, and the data will immediately appear in the field on the screen. These are not the only options available. There are hundreds of them, all available online. You can get the one that suits your process the most.