Introduction
Background
This article helps you make it possible to identify any equipment in Onix Work based on lookup from a unique EPC (Electronic Product Code).
The EPC can be read from a QR scanner (if QR code is provided) or a RFID scanner (if RFID tag is provided)
This means that the following variables must be provided as a verified match:
- Article Id (Product Id)
- Serial Number
- Production Year
- Global Id (EPC)
Process
Ensure that EPC number of the RFID tag matches the Serial number of the label.
(1) Upload results → (2) Map Serial to EPC → (3) Attach RFID to Label.
It is important that the correct equipment in Onix Work can be identified by the unique EPC at any time throughout the value chain.
There are two ways of scanning labels:
- One by one
- Many at the same time
One by one is often the most secure.
If all labels (Serials and EPCs) have been prepared in a sequence, you should consider scanning several at the same time.
Install the software
This is an on-premises solution. This means, it can be downloaded from the cloud but must be installed and executed on a PC.
Download from: http://download.onixwork.com/software/OrderImport/
Install the software: Click Install and select setup.exe when download is complete.
Set up Onix Maker
Before you can start using the application, the environment must be set up.
Log in
The first time you start Order Import, you will be asked for credentials.
Server: UP Production
Insert email address and password given from your customer.
Setup
Enter the menu: Order > Options and make sure these items are ticked off:
- Test for Article No
- Include Global Id
- Create Equipment
And that these items are not ticked off:
- Create Job
- File Job
Connect RFID scanner
Connect your RFID scanner to a USB port.
Enter the menu: Tools > Input From Device… or hit F6.
This will bring up this window:
If you select the scanner from the list and then Connect, the screen should look like this:
Scan tags
Before scanning tags, be sure that you have the labels in front of you with the RFID tags attached inside.
Both the serial number and the RFID number (EPC) should be visible on the label at this time.
Scanner menu
Enter the menu: Tools > Input From Device… or hit F6.
Connect to the RFID reader and select the tab Read.
By tweaking the parameters in the top of the list, you can decide how the serial number should be formed.
Serial numbers often consist of up to three parts: Prefix, a numeric incrementable part and a suffix.
If your result is supposed to look like this: NO-0001/0520 to NO-1300/0520 you should fill in:
The Next Serial must always be a pure numeric value. However, it might contain leading zeros as placeholders.
| Prefix | Optional. This part will be the same for all serial numbers |
|---|---|
| Next Serial | Incremented part. The first generated number will be equal to the typed number. The next will be incremented by 1 |
| Suffix | Optional. This part will be the same for all serial numbers |
| Article | Article No/Product No given by your customer/supplier |
| Prod Year | Production year of the items. Normally 4 digits |
When the templates are filled in, you can start scanning.
Scanning (One by one)
This is the most secure method for ensuring high quality result.
Select the Scan method:
If you want to control the Start/Stop of your scanner manually, select Scan until stopped.
Hit the Start Scan button when you are ready and move the labels one by one over the scanner.
The list of paired serial numbers and EPCs will fill up as the labels are read.
After the last label has been scanned, hit Stop Scan.
Note
If the labels are kept too close to each other during the scanning process, the labels will not be read in the correct sequence (This might be corrected later).
Tip
RFID is vulnerable to metal. This means that the scanning area can be shielded by e.g. aluminium foil to isolate the scanning area. This way the reader will not pick up signals from outside this area.
Depending on your scanner, the reader’s sensitivity can be adjusted by the slider:
If the scanner tends to pick up unintended results, the reading is too sensitive and must be lowered.
Scanning (Multiple)
If you are sure that all labels are produced with increasing serial numbers and all RFID codes are sequentially attached, the scanning can be done just as a verification that the RFID tag is responding.
Select the Scan method:
If you want to control the Start/Stop of your scanner manually, select Scan until stopped.
Hit the Start Scan button when you are ready and move the labels over the scanner until all RFID tags are picked up.
The list of paired serial numbers and EPCs will fill up as the labels are read.
After the last label has been scanned, hit Stop Scan.
Note
The EPC list will not have the correct sequence and must be corrected later.
Depending on your scanner, the reader’s sensitivity can be adjusted by the slider:
If the scanner does not pick up the signal, the reading sensitivity must be raised.
Confirm scan
Stop by clicking Stop Scan if the scanner is running.
Click Ok to confirm your list and return to the main screen.
Confirm results
The result might look something like this:
(Beware that Quantity always should be 1 when using unique Global ID)
The serial numbers and global IDs should match the corresponding label and RFID tag.
If this is not the case, it can be corrected by using e.g. Microsoft Excel.
By using method Scanning multiple, the result must always be adjusted.
If everything looks fine, we need to verify the result.
Do this by pressing the Validate button:
If the validation was a success, you can transfer the order.
If not, correct the errors given in the error message and Validate again.
Finally transfer the order by clicking Transfer:
The upload is asynchronous and will send you an email when the order is finalized.
Adjusting the results after scanning
After using the scanner input screen, the visual verification might fail and you will need to do some corrections.
Adjusting the results using Microsoft Excel
By clicking the upper left corner, you will select all rows and columns.
- Copy the content by clicking Edit > Copy from the menu, or Ctrl+C
- Paste the copied cells into Excel
In Excel, remove the last row that is not fully filled in (marked red).
Correct single items (Scanning one by one)
A common issue is that two EPC codes have been swapped (read in the wrong sequence).
Do any necessary adjustments and compare the records with the labels.
Correct all items (Scanning multiple)
- Sort your spread sheet based by the column for Serial Numbers
- Insert the sorted list of EPCs in the EPC Column (replace)
- Visually check that the first and last record match the content of the first and last label
Copy the content back to Onix Maker
- Select all rows in Onix Maker and click Delete to remove the current content
- Copy the rows from Excel, and paste them into Onix Maker (Edit > Paste or Ctrl+V)
