Marking and engraving technology has come a long way in recent years. Modern laser engraving capabilities have made it faster and easier for manufacturers to identify parts, track them through the manufacturing process, and trace them back to their origin.

And in a time when regulations and customer demands are at an all-time high, a traceability system is like insurance – an investment to protect your company against current and future risks. For an increasing number of manufacturers and suppliers, these risks include defective materials, production inefficiencies, lack on inventory control, counterfeiting, and product recalls.

For a successful traceability system, you need three key criteria:A permanent, readable mark on the part in the form of a unique identifier, usually a 1D or 2D barcode containing manufacturing data (lot number, serial number, etc.)

Software to connect your marking system to you database, so that the data can be stored and accessed on demand for track and trace purposes

Ability to analyze the data for insights to optimize your production and distribution processes and enhance your productivity

Advances in communication technology have even enabled marking and engraving systems to integrate directly into factory automation networks using industrial protocol.

Whether or not you’re operating a traceability system right now, you probably know that there are several options available, including laser and dot peen permanent marking systems or non-permanent options such as labels, ink, or tags. While the latter have been go-to solutions in the past, today’s permanent marking technologies ensure that your data remains on your parts from assembly all the way through final delivery to your customers.

ADVANTAGES OF LASER MARKING AND ENGRAVING

Laser marking systems, thanks to their flexibility and precision, provide a multitude of cost-saving benefits to manufacturers, including:REDUCE HUMAN ERROR

When your manufacturing process isn’t running like a well-oiled machine, mistakes can be made – costl