One of the most important methods of brand protection
Counterfeiting, diversion, product recalls and stringent government regulations all put pressure on brands and a company's bottom line. A basic track & trace solution is the perfect feeder system for manufacturers, especially a system that handles code generation and application and ties it off to the intended next recipient in the supply chain. This code data is easily fed into manufacturing business systems that handle the specifics of e-pedigree document transfer and electronics signoff.
A track & trace system that synthesizes packaging information from product at all stages in the supply chain is your best defense against counterfeiting. You can identify false product and its entry point into the marketplace and take strong action against it. Coding and marking technologies offer the ability to manage the product at the item level. This means individual items can be tracked from the plant to the distribution center to the store. So for example, if there is a concern that a product may have been tampered with, a manufacturer doesn't have to recall an entire batch, but instead could inform specific stores directly about the recalled product. In this way, the problematic product can be targeted and removed from the supply chain, reducing cost and negative publicity, while also possibly saving the life of a consumer.
Conversely, through random checks of the supply chain and retail locations, product manufacturers can quickly identify counterfeits or items that have been obtained through diversionary means. Examining the different types of overt and covert codes on a package and the data contained within them can quickly determine whether the products on a distributor or retailer shelf are authentic and belong there.
The challenge is to find the right coding and marking solution to apply high-quality codes onto nearly any product at production line speeds, enabling manufacturers to meet coding regulations. Your traceability partner should be able to address challenges in serialization as well as print expiration dates, bar codes, lot codes and other variable data on products and packaging. These systems can typically be configured as standalone operations, or integrated into packaging line control systems. The codes generated are found in a variety of applications, from basic lot/line identification functions, to uniquely generated and applied track and trace or mass serialization projects, as well as gaming and on-pack promotion initiatives.
