Challenge
Replace the customer’s out-of-date PC and label software without putting a PC on the shop floor.
Solution
A Zebra CC6000 kiosk integrated with MCL code and BarTender.
Story
A customer approached EMP needing to upgrade its labeling system. They had a desktop PC running a very old label software product. Both the software and the PC needed replacing, but putting a PC on the shop floor was undesirable.
The engineers at EMP think outside the box. Instead of replacing the items one for one, the solution uses the Zebra CC6000 kiosk, MCL (a rapid development tool that runs on the Android-based terminal), and BarTender running on the customer’s server. The CC6000 is typically used in retail, but EMP saw the value of having a barcode scanner, touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and Zebra’s rugged version of Android in one device.
The solution was developed and installed in less than a week. EMP ripped out a clunky, IT-maintained PC and replaced it with a sleek Android kiosk. The MCL code prompts the operator for lot codes and expiration dates, which are scanned into the kiosk and pushed over the wireless network to a SQL database. BarTender on the server sees the data, processes it, and sends the label to the printer. The operator applies the label to the product and the prompts start over.
A huge benefit of this approach is the large number of devices MCL supports. If the customer wanted, data collection could become fully mobile with a mobile computer and printer. This type of project is the hallmark of what EMP does: off-the-shelf products customized into clever, cost-effective solutions that can be developed and installed rapidly.
Looking to upgrade out-of-date equipment? Contact EMP today to see what out-of-the-box solution we can design for you.
