QR Code Screen Tracking

Why track screen inventory

In many shops the count, usage and status of screens (frames + mesh) are tracked by guess-work. This means decisions — for example about how many frames to keep, when to reclaim mesh, and which mesh counts are truly in use — are made without data. A simple tracking system gives visibility into:

• Which mesh counts are actually being used.

• How often screens are going through the reclamation process.

• How many screens are cleaned in each batch.

• Which screens fail (pop or break) before expected lifespan.

What you’ll need

• A label maker capable of printing barcode or QR codes.

• A barcode/QR-scanner (USB or wireless) that acts as a keyboard input device.

• A spreadsheet platform with a form interface (for example, Google Forms + Google Sheets).

• Labels with unique identifiers for each screen (frame+mesh).

Set-up steps

1. Assign each screen (frame + mesh) a unique ID. Print a label (barcode or QR code) for that ID and affix it to the side of the frame.

2. Create a form (via Google Forms or similar) that captures relevant fields (e.g., screen ID, mesh count, reclamation date, condition, job count, etc.). Link that form to a spreadsheet so each submission appears as a row.

3. At each reclamation event, or when a batch of screens is cleaned, use the scanner to scan each screen’s label.

4. The scan populates the form’s field via keyboard input; submit the form. The entry is captured in the spreadsheet.

5. Maintain additional entries when a screen fails (break/pop) or is retired. In those entries record job count or age of mesh before failure.

6. Periodically review the spreadsheet:

   
   

   • Filter by mesh counts to see which are used and how often.

   • Count how many screens are reclaimed per batch and frequency of reclamation.

   • Track screen failures: create a “leaderboard” of oldest mesh still in use, and identify mesh/frames that fail prematurely.

   
   
   
   

Benefits

• Enables data-driven inventory decisions (how many frames/mesh to stock, which mesh counts to reorder).

• Reveals usage patterns (which mesh counts are actually active).

• Tracks reclamation cycles and screens cleaned per batch (efficiency metric).

• Helps identify issues with screen lifespan (e.g., if meshes are failing early due to handling or process).

• Uses tools already accessible (label maker, scanner, spreadsheet) rather than expensive dedicated inventory software.

Practical considerations

• Labels must be durable and survive the screen-reclaim process (cleaning chemistry, stress, handling). Using a sticky label with barcode/QR is required.

• Scanner must support reading barcode or QR; some cheaper scanners only read barcodes.

• The input must map cleanly to the form: scanner acts like keyboard, so the form field must be active when you scan.

• Training the team: ensure that every screen reclaimed or retired is scanned/submitted, to keep the data accurate.

• Review the data regularly: without periodic review the tracking system becomes idle.

• Use the failure logs not just to see life spans, but to trigger root-cause investigations (if mesh counts are shorter than expected, check process, handling, exposure, etc.).

Template suggestion for form fields

• Screen ID (scanned)

• Mesh count

• Frame size/type

• Date of reclamation

• Batch identifier (optional)

• Job count at start or at last reclamation

• Condition notes (e.g., popped, broken, damaged)

• Date of failure/retirement

Summary

Implementing a barcode/QR-label + scanner + form/spreadsheet system enables an affordable, low-disruption method to monitor screen inventory, usage and lifespan. The key is consistent labeling, scanning at each reclamation/failure event, and periodic review of the collected data to drive operational improvements.