Label Gallery Plus Software Gets the Job Done - "Just in Time"

End user: Industrial Manufacturer
System: Label-design software with database compatibility to standardise barcode label designs and print on demand
Benefits: Improved accuracy and speed of production

Overview

The manufacturer ran a print room where stock labels were pre-printed, before being delivered to the production line and applied. Forecasts of labels contents and numbers required had to be made well in advance of production.

Issues: Less formats, more labels

The software used to produce labels was outdated, as was the whole concept of a dedicated print room. Designing labels was complex and time consuming and forecasting label requirements was often difficult. Contents were not always known long enough in advance, resulting in labels not being available on time, or inaccurate data being printed. Numbers of labels required were also hard to predict. Too few, brought production to a halt, too many, resulted in costly wastage.

The manufacturer decided to upgrade the software to make label design easier and to standardise labels. In place of the many label formats, the new software had to be compatible with a database, reducing the number of formats required. This in itself would speed up label production. They also wanted to introduce end-of-line, on-demand printing, to cope with the fast moving production line, improving efficiency and reducing wastage

Solution: "Just in Time"

The print room was abolished and printers were moved down to production. SATO Label Gallery was the software chosen by the manufacturer, for its ease of use, simple design features, and its ability to share information with other programmes (ActiveX).

Built around a core database of part numbers, a small number of label formats were designed and maintained in the full version of Label Gallery Plus. The shop floor label production is controlled by password protected print-only versions of the software. Users can print a label through a specially designed input screen.

Benefits

Label designs are now easy to create and modify, in real time, and are put into production immediately.

The shop floor can print labels when they need them. The print only password protected version of Label Gallery Plus also means label designs are secure as redesign is only possible on the full version.

Label production is now much more efficient. Moving away from producing for stock to a "just in time" label production has saved time, wastage and money.

For more information on Label Gallery Plus click here