Qingdao Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau: QR Codes + Label Stickers Simplify Equipment Management
"Don't underestimate this small QR code! Just scan it with your phone, and the equipment status and inspection records are immediately displayed accurately!" said Ding Yuanhao, the monitoring equipment administrator at the Jimo Branch Monitoring Center of Qingdao Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, proudly pointing to the QR code on a laboratory instrument.
White QR codes have appeared on the experimental instruments and equipment at the Jimo Branch Monitoring Center. By simply scanning these codes with a mobile phone, all relevant equipment information is instantly displayed. These small QR codes serve as digital "ID cards," bringing technological innovation to equipment management and making the process more efficient and convenient.
According to reports, the "General Requirements for the Competence Assessment of Inspection and Testing Institutions" (RB/T 214-2017) stipulates that equipment management requires affixing verification labels, status labels, and displaying instrument information and asset tags for user identification. However, not all labels can adhere properly due to varying surface coatings on different instruments. Additionally, frequently used equipment often leads to rapid label wear. Moreover, checking interim verifications and calibration records requires sifting through paper documents, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
"Inspired by the widespread use of QR codes in daily life, we collected all relevant instrument information (model, serial number, responsible person, verification, calibration, assets, operating instructions, etc.) and integrated it into a backend database to generate QR codes. These were printed on silver polyester labels and affixed to suitable locations on the corresponding equipment. Now, with a simple scan using an electronic device, all instrument information is immediately accessible," explained Ding Yuanhao. Compared to traditional instrument labels, QR code labels are more durable, easier to apply, and the generated dynamic QR codes allow content updates without changing the code itself. For example, after re-verification, only the new certificate information needs to be updated in the backend, while the QR code remains usable permanently. Through multiple tests, this QR code scanning method has been validated for practical use. Besides WeChat and Alipay, it is also compatible with other commonly used scanning apps like Baidu and Xuexi Qiangguo.
Step 1: Open WeChat Scan
Step 2: Scan the QR Code
Step 3: View Equipment Information
It is reported that to maximize the utility of QR codes in equipment management and daily inspections, the Jimo Branch Monitoring Center has edited and organized information for over 50 instruments, including sound level calibrators, ion chromatographs, and noise statistical analyzers, achieving full coverage. This has enabled information sharing, transparency, and precision in equipment management and inspection processes, elevating equipment maintenance management and operational safety to new heights.
Integrating digital technologies and methods deeply into ecological and environmental protection work helps build a smart and efficient environmental management information system, providing strong support for modernizing environmental governance. These small QR codes save time and effort, effectively simplifying daily equipment maintenance. In the next step, the Jimo Branch Monitoring Center will further summarize QR code application experiences, improve data coordination, expand application scope, and comprehensively enhance information equipment management levels, further refining the digital management model for physical equipment.
Article reprinted from the WeChat public account: Mocheng Environmental Protection Tiny QR Codes Enable Smart Upgrades in Equipment Management