Carton Labelling
 ProducePak Bar-coding uses ink-jet box printers to mark the contents of each carton after it has been packed using a 'contents' barcode. ProducePak Bar-coding gives you a choice of information which you can mark on each carton including:
Lot/Batch Number
Pack Date
Size, Colour, Grade
Grower / Crop / Block
and more….
You can choose which fields you require printed on cartons.
Automatic Palletisation
ProducePak bar-coding can automatically assign cartons to be packed into a specific 'pallet bay' to ensure pallets are packed using combinations of produce that you prefer, and ensuring ProducePak can trace each and every carton accurately. When ProducePak detects that a pallet bay is full, the relevant pallet labels are automatically printed and can be applied to the pallet. The pallet is now ready for easy consignment from the ProducePak Stock Control system.
Packer Performance & Pay
ProducePak bar-coding can record a Packer ID from each carton scanned, this information can be used to:
count individual packer carton packing
pay packers per carton packed
pay packer per piece of fruit packed
ProducePak can produce reports which aid in the identification of packers who do not perform adequately, when combined with Packer Quality Assurance reports, packer performance can be significantly enhanced.
Example Bar-Coding Process
The following is a brief example of how existing ProducePak users manage their packing process with the Barcode Module:
1. Prepare to Pack a Lot/Batch
The pack-house manager indicates which produce will be packed on each Lot/Batch. Each Lot can accept details such as Produce Name, Originating Crop/Block and preferred packaging conditions.
2. Packed Goods Are Scanned
As the packaged goods have their packer applied barcode scanned by ProducePak, they are automatically palletised and assigned a destination pallet. When the destination pallet is full, ProducePak automatically prints the relevant pallet labels. Optionally, packer details are recorded for packer pay purposes at this stage.
3. Goods are printed on via inkjet
Each package/carton is marked by an inkjet printer which prints information such as contents details, packing date, originating crop/block, destination pallet bay, Lot/Batch number and more. The inkjet print is customisable depending on the packing situation.
4. Packaging materials adjusted in inventory
ProducePak recognises the packaging materials being used by a combination of the barcode and other Lot/Batch attributes. This information is used to automatically update the quantity of Cartons, Ink, Glue, and other packaging materials on hand.
5. Packing Quality Assurance
Packaged goods are taken off of the production at random and tested for packaging quality, produce quality and weight, and various other measurements of quality. ProducePak uses this information to provide detailed Quality Control reports for management and marketing purposes.
6. Live monitoring of packaging materials
The grower/pack-house can monitor levels of packaging goods in a “live” manner at any time.
7. Packaging materials suppliers notified
During the packing process, if a packaging item reaches a predefined seasonal level of ‘inventory on hand’, suppliers can be automatically notified to replenish the packaging materials via SMS, Fax, or Email.
8. Online Monitoring of Packaging Materials
Suppliers can use the internet to access the levels of packaging materials their customers have on hand, this is used to increase customer service and assists with the planning of wholesale product purchases.
9. Additional Packing details recorded
ProducePak uses timesheets to record the labour for each Lot/Batch. This information, when combined with the cost of packaging materials and other expenses provides the packing manager with indicators of
performance and other important management tools.
10. Goods are Dispatched
The packaged and quality assured goods are now ready to be dispatched and the Transport company and Agent/Vendor (purchaser) is alerted via online services or SMS, Email, or Fax.
Barcode Label Printing
ProducePak can print your barcodes via thermal barcode printer meaning you don't need third party software to print barcodes - and you can print barcodes when you need them. ProducePak uses smart barcode labels and doesn't require new bar-codes to be printed for particular date, or Lot/Batch.
Operation Modes
ProducePak has various operation modes designed to provide the flexibility required to fulfil your requirements, modes include:
• cartons contents only
• carton contents & label printing
• default content codes
• default packer codes
• contents & packer number only
• contents & packer number and box labelling
• packer barcode only
Alternative Configurations
The example bar-coding and box printing setup listed above is only one implementation of ProducePak bar-coding, each implementation is tailored to the unique requirements of each pack-house process requirements. For example, Print & Apply Labelling may be used to substitute Ink Jet printing.
Summary
ProducePak Barcode and Carton Labelling Modules can provide your packing facility with a complete solution which is integrated with the rest of the ProducePak business management suite. These modules provide:
• package recognition
• package identification
• packaging material management
• packing process management
• packing cost analysis
• packer performance analysis
(note: Barcoding, and Cartons Labelling/Identification modules sold seperately)
ProducePak Box Printing has been developed and tested with a specific model of Imaje Injet box printer and may not work with other brands or models. ProducePak Bar-coding has been developed using specific models of Sick bar-code scanner and cannot be guaranteed to work with other models or brands. |
Through the bar-coding system, every carton is scanned, informing Pack House staff of the contents of the carton and the exact pallet bay where that carton is to be placed. Preset instructions enable ProducePak Bar-coding to automatically palletize as it recognizes when a pallet is complete, automatically printing out relevant labelling and documentation. 
ProducePak can automatically record packed cartons as they pass by the barcode reader. Using ProducePak bar-coding to have cartons automatically recorded saves a lot of time for packing shed staff and increases accuracy and speed of the packing process.
