Set up and monitor numbering, bar-coding or inline data printing equipment
Overview
This standard is for people who set and monitor numbering, bar-coding or inline data printing equipment. The numbering equipment may be conventional numbering 'clocks' or 'blocks' or ink-jet, thermal or laser technology.
Numbering, bar-coding, as well as the addition of batch information and variable personal data to printed material is very common in the printing industry. From gaming tickets through stationery and packaging to direct mail, the range of printed products which now contain such information is huge.
Mechanical numbering 'blocks' which print sequential numbering series can be found on letterpress machines and mechanical numbering 'clocks' which perform a similar operation are found on many small offset lithographic machines or on standalone numbering machines. For these types of devices, the operator must be able to set up the equipment so that the impression is clean and of the right weight so as not to damage the product or the equipment. Because these devices are inked in a conventional way, they must be kept clean in order to avoid 'sticking' or jumping. On some products, one or more of the same numbers must be printed, on others, multiple numbering heads usually require the sequence of numbering to be carefully worked out so that the numbers count forwards or backwards to create a sequential set when the product is guillotined.
Impact printers typically have a 'foil' ribbon from which the foil coating is transferred to the printed product when it is struck by the print head. Non-impact printers include ink-jet units, which are capable of printing at high speed onto moving substrates, and thermal print heads that require thermal sensitive substrates or transfer ribbons in order to produce an image. These digital driven devices are programmed by a computer or by a touchscreen or keyboard supplied by the device manufacturer.
Commercially available numbering software is also increasingly common, and these programmes can set up complex sequential numbering in multiple positions on a sheet for subsequent printing to a laser or ink-jet printer. This standard may be used for operators of such software providing the numbering is sequential, not static. This standard cannot be used for the printing of a static bar-code contained as part of a larger printed image because the standard requires the setting up (including programming for digital devices) of numerical or other inline data printing equipment.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Set up numbering, barcoding or non-impact printing equipment
- identify numbering or other data requirements from specifications
- determine sequence, orientation and position of numbering or data on sheets to meet specifications
- calculate starting numbers for each number position to meet specifications
- mount the numbering devices or print heads to meet specifications
- put ink or transfer media into equipment following standard operating procedures
- input required data, create layouts, and apply the correct fonts, including barcode font and format to meet specifications
- set numbering devices or print heads to produce a clean image without causing physical damage to the substrate to be printed
- check any sequential numbering will operate and count in the right direction to meet specifications
- check batch coding data is set-up and any barcode images can be read by a barcode scanning device
- obtain approval to begin production following standard operating procedures**
Run and monitor the quality of numbering, bar-coding or non-impact printing during production
**
11. confirm quality of printed images meet specifications
12. check numbering or variable data is maintained in sequence
13. stop production if numbering or variable data sequence has failed following standard operating procedures
14. check numbering, bar-coding or other data can be read, including by a 'reading' device such as a barcode scanner
15. correct faults that it is your job to correct, including resetting any numerical sequence following standard operating procedures
16. report any printing problems that it is not your job to correct following standard operating procedures
17. remove or clearly identify any defective products following standard operating procedures
18. dispose of any defective products following standard operating procedures
19. keep samples of printed products following standard operating procedures
20. keep records of the data printed, including details of any batch coding or numbering sequences used
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
The Law as it affects printing
- data protection
**
Ethical Issues relevant to printing
*
2. confidentiality
*
Health and Safety
*
3. your duties and responsibilities for health and safety as defined by any specific legislation covering your job role
4. manufacturer's health and safety requirements relevant to your job
5. how to stop a machine in the event of an emergency
*
Communication
*
6. how to communicate with colleagues
*
Workplace policy and practice
*
7. workplace objectives, priorities, standards and procedures
8. the range of work carried out in the workplace*
The identification and assessment of printing options
*
9. the stages in the printing process from pre-press to printed product *
Time and Resources
*
10. how to maximise productivity*
The operation of equipment
*
11. the operation of numbering, barcoding or non-impact inline printing equipment
12. the principles of barcode construction, including the use of 'check' digits *
Printing
*
13. the principles of impact and non-impact numbering and inline data printing *
The causes and treatment of common faults
*
14. processing faults
15. machine faults
*
Administrative procedures
*
16. recording and reporting
17. product labelling *
Environmental
*
18. any specific environmental legislation that covers processes in your company
19. control of pollution
*
Quality Assurance and Control
*
20. techniques for controlling quality
21. equipment for controlling quality in barcode production
*
Problem Solving
*
22. sources of information
23. techniques for assessing machine faults*
Materials
**
24. the types and characteristics of paper, board and other commonly used substrates
25. the types and characteristics of ink and coatings
26. how to maintain the quality of materials during storage and handling