How are track and trace solutions and vision systems used together in the pharmaceutical industry?
In the pharmaceutical industry, track and trace solutions and vision systems are used together to ensure product safety, quality, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Here are some ways they are used together:
Product Identification: Vision systems are used to capture and process images of product packaging, labels, and codes such as barcodes and QR codes. Track and trace solutions then use this information to uniquely identify each product and create a digital record of its movement throughout the supply chain.
Serialization: Serialization is the process of assigning a unique serial number to each individual product unit, such as a bottle or a box, to enable traceability. Vision systems can capture the serial numbers and verify them against the information stored in the track and trace system, ensuring that each product is correctly serialized and recorded.
Verification and Authentication: Vision systems can be used to verify the authenticity and integrity of product packaging and labels, such as checking for tampering, counterfeiting, or labeling errors. This information can be cross-validated with the track and trace system to ensure that the product is genuine and meets the required quality standards.
Packaging Inspection: Vision systems can inspect product packaging for defects, such as damaged seals, missing labels, or incorrect labeling. This information can be used by the track and trace system to flag products that do not meet the required packaging standards, ensuring that only compliant products are released into the supply chain.
Aggregation: Aggregation is the process of associating individual product units with higher-level packaging, such as cases or pallets. Vision systems can capture and verify the aggregation information, such as barcode or RFID data, and transmit it to the track and trace system, which can then update the digital record of the product's location and status in the supply chain.
Recall Management: In case of a product recall, vision systems can be used to identify and locate affected products in the supply chain using their unique identifiers. This information can be quickly retrieved from the track and trace system, enabling rapid and precise recall management to prevent further distribution of the affected products.
Overall, the integration of track and trace solutions with vision systems in the pharmaceutical industry helps to ensure end-to-end visibility and traceability of products, prevent counterfeiting and tampering, improve quality control, and comply with regulatory requirements.
