Mark, Identify & Trace Unbranded Product

What is Bright Stock?

Bright Stock initiatives, also styled as “brite-stock”, are inventory management solutions that allow generic, unbranded or unlabelled stock (hence “bright”), to be produced and stored off-line for re-integration later into the production process. Typically this is used by manufacturers who produce own-branded items for different end customers or have different final packaging requirements for end markets.

Why Implement Bright Stock?

Manufacturers wish to produce as much stock as possible in a single production run to maximise efficiencies. They can then store the product and label or brand it in a just-in-time process to meet demand in a flexible and efficient manner. The savings that can be achieved through Bright Stock initiatives in pharmaceutical manufacturing are measured in millions of euro/ dollars.

Why Crest Solutions?

Being able to identify and verify unbranded product and thereafter track it through a compliant production process is a key concern. The desire to have identifiable marks on otherwise unbranded product has led to the development of visible inkjet markings and UV markings that are invisible except under UV light, as well as laser etched markings and RFID tags. Crest Solutions have the expertise in marking and verification using leading vision technology to be the ideal partner for manufacturers implementing Bright Stock initiatives. In addition, Crest Solutions’ proprietary ProTrack^TM tracking software uses these marks to track and trace the product as it is aggregated upwards from unit level to case level to pallet level.

Inspection & Tracking

A code, in either UV or visible ink, is marked on the product before it is placed into inventory as Bright Stock. This mark is for internal use only to identify the product and does not form part of external label requirements. Crest Solutions deploy machine vision systems: to check the mark initially when it has been printed for readability; to verify the correct Bright Stock product has been selected from inventory for re-integration into production; and to track the product throughout the manufacturing process to the warehouse door as part of an overall ProTrack^TM traceability solution.