Current companies working in the aerospace industry, automotive industry and medical sectors are worried about direct marking and traceability issues.
Current
companies working in the aerospace industry, automotive industry and medical
sectors are worried about direct marking and traceability issues. As a result
of present-day modern reading and marking technologies, problems linked to the
conventional and manual marking methods have been solved by innovative
automated marking technologies. This is why the AS9132 standard is widely used
for Dot Peen marking of Data Matrix codes.
People
who are not familiar with AS9132 might wonder what the standard entails. AS9132
is a new Unique Item Identifier (UID) coding standard which defines the uniformity,
quality and other technical requirements for Dot Peen marking and other metal
components using Data Matrix symbologies. This AS9132 standard also defines the
standard criteria crucial to ensure the electronic scanning or reading of the
symbol.
Specific AS9132guidelines with regard to the
direct part marking of aerospace components have been issued by the Air
Transport Association (ATA). These issued guidelines (SPEC 2000, Chapter 9)
state that for permanent part identification items must use bar code technology,
in particular Data Matrix symbols. The major objective is to mark a part with a
‘unique identifier’ to allow tracking of serialized parts during the full life
cycle of the parts and facilitate the use of automated processes in parts
handling. Chapter 9 has clearly discussed data content although technical
requirements or quality for Dot Peen and other marking technologies has not
been mentioned.