21-06-2012, 02:49 PM
Electronic Data Interchange using Two Dimensional Bar Code
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Introduction
This paper reports an investigation of the feasibility of
using a 2-D bar code symbology (PDF417) as a means of
transmitting shipping information by printing the bar
code symbols that encode the data on the normal human
readable paper delivery docket. Three aspects of its
feasibility have been studied [10];
Electronic Data Interchange, EDI, is defined by
Emmelhainz as "the Interorganizational exchange of
business documentation in a structured, machineprocessable
form" [1, p4]. It is normally assumed that the
communications media involved in EDI are the usual
speed-of-light telecommunications media. However,
since the development, in the late 1980s, of two
dimensional bar codes with a high data carrying capacity
[2,3] it is conceivable that structured business data could
be transmitted in machine readable form between
computer applications using paper as the medium of
transmission. This idea has been termed "paper-based
EDI" [4]. Since one of the aims of EDI is the elimination
of paperwork in the business cycle, it would only make
sense to consider this medium when a suitable printing
surface remains even in an electronic trading situation.
Transmission of shipment information is one such
situation, not only because some form of delivery docket
is often retained in this transaction but also because the
packaging of goods itself provides a potentially suitable
· Organizational feasibility: Are there problems with
existing approaches to materials replenishment for
which bar code EDI would be a feasible, cost effective
and sensible solution? To answer this question two
interview case studies were conducted with two
Melbourne, Australia based automotive manufacturers
who are advanced users of EDI in a Just-In-Time
replenishment environment.
Two Dimensional Bar Codes.
Conventional linear, or one dimensional bar codes
have been used to automate the identification of products
since about 1970 [11]. However their small data capacity
(around 30 characters) limits their usefulness for the
direct transmission of business data in machine readable
form. Within the standard Electronic Commerce model
[12] their main role is to allow a connection to be made
between physical shipments and Advanced Shipping
Notice information sent by electronic means ahead of the
physical shipment. A bar code printed on a delivery
docket or on a carton encodes a shipment number that
can be scanned at the receiving station and used to
retrieve the pre-loaded shipping data sent via EDI.
Toyota Motor Company Australia
The Toyota Motor Company Australia Limited
(TMCA) is located in Melbourne, Australia and is a
subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) of Japan.
The company produces around 100,000 vehicle units per
year. TMCA uses about 3000 locally sourced parts and
about 5300 imported parts. It has 120 independent local
parts suppliers, 19 TMCA owned local suppliers, two
overseas Toyota affiliate suppliers and two overseas non-
Toyota suppliers.
Delivery Docket Reading Program
A second program was developed with very similar
user interface and database design to receive and store
shipping information scanned from the bar coded paper
delivery dockets. Thus the contents of the paper delivery
docket could be recovered and scrolled though by the
receiving clerk and actual received quantities could be
entered before updating the database. The main technical
issue was to allow the user to scan the entire delivery
docket, which could have multiple bar codes, with
minimum interaction with the keyboard. The program
can detect out-of-order or incomplete scanning of the bar
codes and display suitable messages, but if the sequence
of scans is correct and complete, no interaction via the
key board is needed.
Conclusion
This paper has reported research designed to test the
feasibility of using two dimensional bar code technology
(specifically PDF417) as a means of delivering shipping
information, in a machine readable form, from the point
of view of organizational feasibility, technical feasibility
and practical feasibility. Case studies indicated that there
was a clear business advantage in using the technology
both in push and pull type replenishment systems. The
technical feasibility was demonstrated by the production
of a practical and robust demonstration system using
inexpensive hardware and PC based software tools.
Finally the method of delivery appears to be sufficiently
robust to physical abuse to be practical.