Printing and attaching labels can be repetitive and monotonous if the company uses a manual labeling system. But an automatic labeling system solves many issues for the company. While they have numerous benefits, there are some limitations to know about as well. That’s what we’ll be looking at today.
But first;
What is Auto Labeling?
Auto labeling automates the process of printing and applying labels on a company’s products. A small manufacturer may use a manual labeling system since they don’t have significant labeling needs. But the process becomes complicated when the company grows and needs to produce hundreds or thousands of products for worldwide shipping.
An industrial automatic labeling machine helps large companies meet their labeling needs and save on labor costs. It can also be used to print removable or non-removable labels.
For example, it can print and apply up to 150 labels per minute, and go on hour after hour.
The Working Mechanism Behind Auto Labeling Equipment
An automatic labeling machine consists of a mechanical system that separates the products and a conveyor or roller that carries the products into the labeling machine.
The drive wheel in the mechanical system randomly pulls the label strip out of the spool or reel. The labeling happens once the labeling wheel and the product move simultaneously but decelerates once the labeling is complete.
Sometimes the label slides. But each label has a registration mark read by a sensor to ensure it’s placed properly. When the label tape is decelerating, the drive wheel repositions any labels positioned improperly.
What Are the Benefits of Auto Labeling?
By this point, you can tell some of the reasons why automatic labeling is gaining popularity, including accuracy. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the prominent benefits of auto-labeling:
Faster Labeling
Automated data labeling undoubtedly speeds up the labeling process. Machine labeling tools are faster than manual labeling systems by a huge margin.
Automatic labeling machines can label hundreds or thousands of products per hour with minimal issues. This can help businesses grow their operations seamlessly.
On top of that, automatic machines don’t need breaks during work hours and they can maintain a consistent production rate.
With manual labeling systems, the workers label the products by hand which can be extremely time-consuming. Besides, manual systems are limited when it comes to range and maintaining output quality.
Decreased Need for Labor
Auto-labeling eliminates the need for labor. You might only need one employee to load the labeling reels and oversee the whole process.
This helps your business and employees to focus on productive tasks which play a role in increasing business efficiency. This also improves employee satisfaction since manual labeling is monotonous and repetitive.
Accuracy
Think of the level of inaccuracy businesses need when barcode labels, expiration dates, or any other sensitive details are involved. Manual labeling systems can’t match up.
An automatic laber eliminates the risk of inaccuracy since it doesn’t even need a human labeler in the first place. The machines also track and adjust the application of the labels to ensure proper alignment and placement to reduce skewing and flagging issues.
Flexibility
Automatic labeling machines have a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) which is technically a screen that enables the labeling machine operator to control, monitor, make adjustments, and load various labeling formats. This kind of flexibility is vital especially when dealing with complex labeling operations.
Besides, these machines can accommodate diverse label sizes and products, such as bottles, sacks, pallets, boxes, packs, and many others, that need multiple labels in bulk. Manual labelers can’t handle multiple sizes and configurations at the same level as auto-labeling tools.
Safety
The repetitive nature of manual labeling, maintained posture for long periods, localized pressure on some body parts, exposure to cold temperatures in food handling environments, and too much force exertion can lead to up to 5 ergonomic issues and safety risks.
Automatic labeling systems eliminate safety issues in the workplace since they need minimal human intervention. These machines, therefore, create a safe working environment for business employees.
Enhanced Control
Operators using auto-labeling machines generally have more control over quality and label placement, compared to those using manual labeling. With the HMI screen, the operator can make the necessary adjustments and ensure the product is precise and accurate.
Improved control over the labeling process also improves quality control, helping businesses ensure consistency with label placement and enhancing the overall look of the product.
In addition, automatic labeling machines come with internal storage capabilities that allow operators to save calibration settings. The operator can program the machine for a specific task only once and save the information. With the saved settings, the operator can easily switch back and forth between configurations and settings based on the required output.
Focused Design
Manual and semi-automatic labeling systems are not suitable for challenging labeling tasks, such as labeling buckets in bulk.
Automatic labeling machines can handle heavy container labeling while preventing skewing during the operation. Similarly, they can also take care of tasks that need numerous labels on one bottle.
Specialized auto-labeling tools, such as vertical trunnion roller labelers can be set up to apply front, back, neck, and seal labels.
Minimal Downtime
Industries using manual labeling systems experience multiple downtimes since workers need many breaks. Besides, manual and semi-automatic machines aren’t of superior build.
On the other hand, automatic labeling machines can operate efficiently under extreme industrial conditions while maintaining output quality. They are built to last longer, ensuring minimal downtime and optimum productivity.
On top of that, the maintenance is quite straightforward. A local distributor can make immediate repairs and modify your machines to meet new business needs quickly and with ease.
What Are the Limitations of Auto Labeling?
While there are numerous prominent benefits of auto labeling, there are some notable roadblocks and pains as well. Let’s flip the coin and look at some limitations of auto labeling that you need to be aware of:
Training Time
Automated labeling machines often need some training. The amount of time required to train the software running the machine may be significant.
This issue is particularly significant when using pre-made algorithms to run the operation. In this case, you might need considerable human interaction and consistent observation to guarantee that the labels produced are accurate and high-quality.
Pre-used algorithms are effective at labeling things that it’s already trained on. In other words, you’ll need to go through the training cycle all over again to make it take on new tasks or fit a project’s specific requirements.
For example, an algorithm trained to label under daylight will have to undergo training to label dark images taken at night.
Even after the initial training stages and execution of the automated program, your team will have to keep tweaking and applying new changes based on the accuracy or consistency of the results, especially in between projects.
Error Continuity
While auto-labeling machines and tools are popular for their accuracy, don’t forget that they can also be misled. The effects of diverting the instructions from the right specifications can be long-lasting and recurrent.
This can be attributed to the machine’s inclination to follow the results or outcomes it’s been trained to produce. The machines aren’t trained to identify and correct inaccurate instructions or outcomes. The machine will continue producing the same results, regardless of whether the results are accurate.
With manual or semi-automatic labeling systems, the human operator may spot the error, stop the production, fix the issue, and proceed with the accurate labeling.
An automated labeling tool will continue with the production for an unlimited time. This makes it important for labelers to put some measures in place to ensure the outcomes are accurate.
Some of these measures include detecting and solving any potential errors before they corrupt a significant portion of labeled products.
Quality Control
The main selling points for automated labeling systems are cutting down on time, increasing efficiency, and high-quality production. Undoubtedly, the machines can deliver on these points and even exceed expectations.
However, this also creates a need for quality assurance and control. For example, we’ve already seen that a simple error in the model can lead to highly inaccurate outcomes. This may appear to be a small issue but it’s significant during bulk production.
For optimal quality assurance and control, project supervisors and labeling team leads need to use a system that allows them to oversee the entire process from a high-level point of view.
Verdict: Should You Switch to Auto Labeling?
Deciding whether to switch from manual labeling to auto-labeling systems involves evaluating your specific project needs. Once you’ve determined your needs, you can then choose the right tools and strategies.
You also make better business decisions when you understand factors such as labeling goals, complexity, and size of the product. This way, you can evaluate whether automatic labeling is the best for your business needs.
Overall, automatic labeling is a game changer. Businesses have automated their labeling processes to make them more efficient by saving time and reducing downtime. Compared to manual and semi-automatic labeling systems, automatic systems need minimal human intervention. This greatly increases worker safety and satisfaction in the workplace.
However, you also need to keep in mind that you’ll need to invest a significant amount of time to train the models. Also, have quality assurance measures in place to spot and fix potential issues beforehand.
