A barcode (bar code) is an optical machine readable representation of data. Barcodes can be lines of varying widths, patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns. Bar coding is used to identify company logo, products and product information. The barcodes are read with a barcode reader which is an optical scanner.

Typical uses of barcodes in the wood products industry for inventory tracking as well as for finished product information are:

Sawmill: Thickness, width, length, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for lumber (boards).

Planermill: Thickness, width, length, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for lumber (boards).

Plywood Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for veneer and plywood.

OSB Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for oriented strand board.

MDF Plant: Thickness, sheet size, grade, species and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for medium density fibreboard.

Pulp and Paper Mill: Bale weight, pulp type, identification number and customer information are some of the information that can be recorded in the barcode data for pulp and paper.

English Terminology: Bar coding, bar codes, barcode, lumber, boards, timber, plywood, panels, oriented strand board, medium density fibre board, pulp, paper, wet mill, dry mill.