Passing the Bar

"Verifying the readability and quality of a bar code as it is printed is crucial," said Pistilli. He explained that one of the many standards for bar codes is set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI standards ensure the codes meet quality levels by assigning them grade levels.

Each code is evaluated for minimum reflectance, symbol contrast, edge determination, modulation, decodeability, defects and quiet zones. Each code is assigned an overall ANSI grade, per the ANSI specification. The grade levels follow the academic grading scale of A through F, with A meaning the code is superior and F meaning the code has failed. "ANSI sets stringent standards," Pistilli said. "The minimum level accepted by most customers is a C."