ACS specializes in custom applications that involve bar codes and bar code scanning equipment to facilitate the tracking of production, inventory, and fixed assets. From this research and development we have created a bar-code assets tracking and reporting system, dubbed "BARS".

BARS utilizes bar code scanners, bar codes, and a MSDOS based and Windows compatable software package to simplify the tracking of fixed assets in medium and large scale operations. BARS has been implemented within the University System of Florida, Florida state government, and various cities in Texas, Florida, and Alabama.

Bar codes containing asset identification codes (any series of letters and numbers you desire) are affixed to equipment (computers, expansion cards, desks, file cabinets, calculators, telephones, etc.). Similarly, rooms or floors within buildings have bar codes containing a location identifier (Room #, Building Floor, Reception Room, etc.) affixed to door-jams or other convenient locations.

Existing information is loaded into the database via an import file from an existing database (BARS supports comma-delimited and flat files) or entered manually via data entry screens included with the system.

Bar code scanners of various types can be used to take the inventory. First, the door-jams are scanned (or the location manually entered) followed by the scanning of the bar codes on the assets. All assets scanned after a location code is entered are linked to the that location within the collector. Multiple data collection devices can be used. Scanned data is uploaded to the PC and reconciled.

The user-configurable report generator can be used to report Missing, Moved, Inventoried, or Altered items. The reports can be used to correct any inventory problems uncovered. The system tracks the current and prior location as well as the expected locations of any item, thus allowing the user to know where a moved piece of equipment is and where it should be. Missing items are more easily located because the system can report where they should be as well.

Because the system tracks the entire inventory assets that move to entirely different buildings will be located and flagged by the system as moved and easily retrieved to be returned to the correct location or properly transferred to the proper department and/or owner.

The system has a theoretical limit of 2 billion items, however the largest practical installation to date contained approximately 100,000 items. The specific practical capacity of each system is dependant upon the disk capacity of the host PC, processing power, available RAM, and other factors. A system with MSDOS, Windows (3.1, 96, or NT), 1 gigabyte of disk space, and 1MB of actual RAM memory available to the application can easily handle very large inventories.

For information please feel free to email us. We'll Email, FAX, and/or U.S. Postal Service detailed information about the BARS product to you.