APPLIED TO VERTICAL POSTS
Warehouse environments almost always have product and inventory stored up high on pallet racking and shelves. Long-range scanning works for reading rack labels, but a more efficient and accessible approach is a stacked label solution. This method involves grouping the barcode labels for each level of a structure together in a vertical or horizontal format so each can be scanned from the ground level. They are organized or color-coded in a way that clearly shows which label goes with which location.
DASKO offers this solution and has a wide range of label materials, sizes, and colors to meet your business needs. Multi-level rack labels, also known as totem labels, are typically applied in the following way:
- Each location is labeled with a custom printed warehouse rack and shelf label that can be scanned from either a forklift or reach truck.
- Stack the barcodes for each level on top of each other (or horizontal if it makes sense for your application) and apply this to the vertical post at the ground level so that all levels can be scanned from the ground.
- It is common to also label each actual location (level) with a barcode that can be scanned in the event that a person is up at the actual level (cycle count, audit, new equipment).
- It is recommended that each level is color coded on both the actual location label and the totem pole on the vertical post. This helps provide a visual check that the right warehouse label on the vertical post is being scanned.
PUT THE LABELS FOR ALL LEVELS ON THE FIRST CROSSBEAM
This is a cost effective method for labeling but is also the most challenging from an operational standpoint. Mistakes and inaccurate scans are common results as many barcodes are close together. Color coding or highlighting the level on the label is recommended to make it easier to identify the correct location and ensure proper scanning.
We also recommend staggering the barcodes and human readable labels if this approach is used. If you’re considering a stacked label approach for your business, contact our team at DASKO for more information on what would work best for your specific application.
