The Small QR Code That "Liberated" the Inspector
Original: https://cli.im/article/detail/2067
Equipment running normally, electrical control system normal, transmission system normal, chip guard secure and reliable, lubrication system free of contaminants, automatic oil pump lubricating all parts adequately... After ticking the relevant boxes on a form on his phone, taking a few photos of the scene, entering his name, and confirming his location, Inspector Zhang from a manufacturing company concluded his day's inspection work.
"Such efficiency was unimaginable before. Previously, I had to carry paper inspection sheets, record equipment conditions with pen and paper, then return to the office to input all that data into a computer. The inspection itself might only take one or two hours, but the subsequent registration and data entry consumed most of the day," Zhang explained.
The "secret" behind this shift from manual pen-and-paper records to simple mobile phone operations, making Zhang's work significantly more efficient, isn't some cutting-edge technology, but a small QR code.
The Inspector "Liberated" by QR Codes
Equipment inspection is a routine task in virtually all manufacturing enterprises. Any malfunction during operation can lead to high repair costs, disrupt production schedules, and pose safety risks. Regular inspections are crucial for identifying and eliminating potential hazards early.
However, traditional inspection methods are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also have significant limitations:
- Loose inspection models are difficult to monitor and evaluate, leading to common issues like perfunctory checks, missed inspections, and operational errors.
- Inspection records often remain on paper, making it hard to provide直观 feedback to managers and conduct comprehensive analysis of the results.
- Data recorded manually is prone to errors. Even when manually entered into computers later, mistakes can lead to inaccurate data analysis, ultimately affecting decision-making.
To address these shortcomings in daily equipment inspection, Manager Li, responsible for factory equipment management, turned to CaoLiao QR Code to build an equipment inspection system. After reviewing relevant application scenarios and templates, Manager Li generated a unique QR code for each piece of equipment in the factory. He uploaded equipment information, operation manuals, and other relevant data to these codes and linked them to daily inspection checklists. The QR codes were then printed and affixed to the respective equipment.
With the equipment inspection QR codes in place, Inspector Zhang's workflow transformed significantly. Now, he only needs his mobile phone for inspections. By scanning the QR code on a device via WeChat, he can immediately view its parameters, responsible person, and operation manuals. He then fills out the inspection form by checking boxes for the equipment's running status and the condition of components like controls, transmission, lubrication, and safety guards. Next, he takes photos to document the scene, confirms the geographical location via GPS, and submits the form.
"I initially thought Zhang and his colleagues might resist because the QR code system includes location tracking and photo watermarks, making it harder to cut corners. Surprisingly, they were very supportive. Filling out the form mainly involves ticking boxes, and they can use voice recording for faults or hazards encountered, requiring almost no training. More importantly, once they scan and complete the inspection, their work is done—no need for additional computer data entry. This has greatly improved the inspectors' efficiency," Manager Li recalled.
Manager Li further explained, "Our factory had tried similar approaches before, spending over a hundred thousand yuan on inspection systems. But frontline workers were reluctant to use them. Firstly, they felt their freedom was restricted. Secondly, the learning and training costs were too high, often taking half a month to get proficient. The systems were eventually abandoned after a period of enforced use. QR codes are simple to operate, low-cost, and have genuinely improved our inspectors' work efficiency."
According to Manager Li's plan, CaoLiao QR Code will be applied to more scenarios within the factory, including asset management, personnel management, fire safety checks, and more—aiming to "liberate" even more staff members with QR codes.
QR Codes: The "Bridge" to Digitalization
When Manager Li first encountered CaoLiao QR Code, his focus was primarily on "cost," viewing it as a cheaper alternative to other systems. However, after deep implementation, his perspective shifted.
"QR codes are so common in daily life—used for payments, ordering food, or public transport. I didn't realize they could be applied to equipment inspection, asset management, personnel information management, visitor registration, and other scenarios. QR codes act like a bridge to digitalization, connecting the physical world on one end with the digital world on the other."
Reflecting on the role of CaoLiao QR Code in digital transformation, Manager Li highlighted two key aspects:
The first is Flexibility.
Unlike many customized systems, CaoLiao QR Code provides standardized components. It allows no-code configuration by combining functions like content display, forms, status tracking, and dynamic records as needed. Coupled with management features such as data management, member management, notifications & collaboration, and plan management, along with supporting services like bulk QR code generation and label layout/printing, it enables rapid implementation of applications like "one code per object," "one code per task," or "one code per person." This meets diverse business needs across different scenarios.
To use an analogy: traditional information systems are like reinforced concrete factory buildings, while CaoLiao QR Code is like a simple, practical tent. It might only offer a subset of the "factory building's" functions, but it perfectly suits the requirements in many situations. Furthermore, CaoLiao QR Code offers API capabilities, allowing integration with third-party BI tools for reporting, or connection with platforms like Tencent Connector and WeCom. The "tent" and the "factory building" can coexist without conflict.
The second is Cost-Effectiveness.
For example, building a custom QR code inspection system previously required hiring programmers for coding, designers for UI/UX, developers for testing, and purchasing cloud servers, domains, etc.—representing a hard cost of at least 100,000 RMB. Achieving similar functionality with CaoLiao QR Code often just involves using a template. For light usage, the cost might only be a few cents for label printing. Even for intensive use managing hundreds of pieces of equipment, the annual cost is typically just a few thousand RMB.
"Large enterprises might have IT budgets in the tens of millions, but small and medium-sized enterprises often struggle with software purchases costing even tens of thousands. Yet digital transformation has become essential. They need precisely the kind of compact, rapid, lightweight, and precise solutions that CaoLiao QR Code offers. Particularly, the user experience of 'WeChat scan + Mini Program' directly saves costs associated with staff training and purchasing hardware like dedicated scanners."
Currently, Manager Li's company is cultivating a QR code-based collaborative culture, continuously refining their QR code management model. They are utilizing the data collected via QR codes for statistics and analysis to enhance management standards and gradually promoting QR code applications across various factory workshops to achieve standardized and lean equipment management.
In summary, when facing pain points like equipment inspection and asset management, QR codes offer businesses an economical and efficient path to digitalization. They represent a solution currently suitable for most enterprises, enabling digital transformation in scenarios like inspections through simple operations and significantly reducing setup, learning, and usage costs. When selecting equipment inspection solutions, businesses should comprehensively consider their actual needs, specific scenarios, and budgets. QR codes undoubtedly present a highly cost-effective choice.
Article sourced from Guangming Online report "The Small QR Code That 'Liberated' the Inspector"