Low-cost Extension of Information Transparency Throughout the Product Life-cycle via Optical Identification and Quality Indication

Growing needs for data transparency are experienced in production networks, calling for individual product traceability and accurate information on actual state, quality or history of the individual product. Special challenges arise when “low-tech” network members, retailers or customers are likewise to be served during the product life-cycle, or in case low unit prices or tight profit margins require highly cost-efficient solutions. In line with the latter, the paper examines the integration of optical identifiers with optically perceptible quality indicators as an alternative to sensor-equipped RFID, including new designs not yet covered by implemented solutions. Following a separate survey of the two combined technological domains, possibilities of synthesis are examined from the point of view of optical codes, as their (semi)automatic acquisition and subsequent processing presents the key value added to most present-day indicator-only labels. As different targeted application ranges, e.g., supply chain members of different size, may require different pre-implementation surveys, the paper includes a collection of acceptance aspects for all of the identified user groups.