Paper Mill Reaps Benefits With Lowry’s Automated Labeling Solution
A Florida-based paper mill turned to Lowry to help improve its supply chain management process by reducing errors associated with mislabeled pallets, eliminating the shipment of wrong products, and improving its inventory control process.
Lowry installed an automatic dual tamp labeling system that applies bar-coded identification labels to the front and back of each of the mill's stretch-wrapped pallets. The labels identify pallet content such as product, quantity, and intended customer. Dual tamp labeling enables easy scanning.
The mill’s truck drivers are equipped with scanners to scan the bar code labels and identify the correct products for shipment, rather than relying on manual sight identification. “The system practically eliminates errors related to shipping wrong products,” said the mill’s purchasing agent.
Lowry fully integrated the labeling system with the mill’s data collection software and existing system to ensure seamless operation. “The labeling system has to have a lot of interface with our system,” said a mill representative. “It obtains data have a lot of interface with our system,” said a mill representative. “It obtains data label it cross checks the data to make sure the label content is correct.”
To help the mill’s inventory process, Lowry packages labels and ribbons in matched sets. “The labels and printing ribbons are coordinated so that when the labels run out it's also time to change the ribbon,” said the representative. “By packaging supplies as a single kit, Lowry saves us from having to buy labels from one source and ribbons from another.”
Under Lowry’s Total Lowry Care (TLC) program, all ribbons, labels, service, support, parts, and labor are bundled into a turnkey bar code solution covered by one agreement, which guarantees products and service at a low, fixed annual rate.
The new bar code labeling system has streamlined the mill's shipping process, improved its operations, and positively impacted the mill's ability to service its major chain retailers. The mill's shipments now comply with the standards set by its customers. |
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