Identification Labels

Since early in the industrial era, manufacturers have used serial numbers to keep track of their products for sales and maintenance purposes.  These days, has computer technology made serial numbers obsolete?  No, quite the opposite in fact.  Crunching long and boring numbers is what computers do best, and therefore information technology has made it possible to keep more detailed records on more types of assets than ever before.  All that are needed to make the system work are well designed identification labels.

For a long time, products had serial identifying numbers hand written or stamped in inconspicuous places.  As you can imagine, this led to all kinds of problems, including the duplication of numbers, cases of illegibility, numbers getting worn off, and so forth.  Eventually, the advantages of pre-printed identification labels became clear: no missed numbers, no doubling up, and every sticker as clear and readable as the last.  It was about this time that manufacturers started including additional information on their stickers, such as model details and consumables requirements.

The advent of computer databases allowed manufacturers to store extensive information for every item they produced, and to conveniently cross-reference this information whenever it was required.  Have you ever wondered how the garage know just what type of engine oil to supply for your car, when all you’ve given them is your registration number?  That’s how.  A database holds your car serial number, checks it against the number plate and engine specification details, and supplies the required information.

So, in so many ways, the use of identification labels in conjunction with data handling systems have made life easier and more convenient for consumers.  But the benefits of these systems extend beyond just that.  Many large companies now use similar techniques to practice effective asset management.  For example, a very large company could easily own many thousands of items of electronic office equipment spread across several sites.  With a responsibility to protect the wellbeing of their workforce, the company could put in place a PAT testing system, in order to have each appliance inspected periodically.  But, how do you monitor the progress of such a system, with so many items involved?

The answer is to have each appliance, irrespective of its function, assigned a unique identifier and have it fitted with a custom identification tag bearing that number.  Now, each piece can be checked off on the list each time it is inspected or serviced.  Want to take it further?  Put the list on a computer database, which can easily work out when the next test is due, record any repairs which have been made, and so on.

The custom identification tag used for this system can come in many forms.  At PAT Labels, we produce straightforward serial number stickers, available with custom text and colours to promote your company.  These labels are also available with integrated barcodes or QR codes, to enable them to be used as part of a fully digital system.  To learn more about custom identification tag products, contact our team.