Solving Common Part Marking Challenges in Industrial Manufacturing

A product is only as traceable as its mark. If a QR code won’t scan properly or a serial number fades, it can disrupt production, delay shipments, or lead to regulatory issues. With stricter compliance standards and more complex supply chains, we are seeing new challenges in part and product marking that must be addressed to ensure traceability remains reliable.

Part marking might sound straightforward, but in industrial environments, it’s not always so simple. Manufacturers work with a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites – and they all react differently to marking technologies.

Marks often need to hold up against conditions like extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, or abrasion. With the rise of automation, marks must be high-contrast, scannable, and applied quickly enough to keep up with production speeds. MECCO’s solutions are built to perform under these exact conditions.

In this article, we explore six of the most common challenges in part and product marking – and how manufacturers can address them.

6 Common Part Marking Challenges (And How to Solve Them)

1. Mark Durability in Harsh Environments

In industries like oil and gas, electronics, and automotive, parts are regularly exposed to outdoor conditions, high heat, and corrosive environments. These harsh conditions can cause labels to fall off, fade, or make shallow marks unreadable.

How MECCO solves it: We test different marking technologies based on material, depth requirements, and production constraints. Direct part marking with technologies that provide deeper marks is often the best solution.

2. Increasing Throughput while Maintaining Mark Quality

Maintaining high-quality marks without slowing down throughput can be a challenge. It’s essential that marking equipment works seamlessly with production lines that may have conveyors, robots, and sophisticated control systems.

How MECCO solves it: Many of our systems are designed for automated production lines and ensure integration with MES and ERP platforms. We work with customers to optimize cycle times without sacrificing mark integrity. 

Watch how our pin marking machines outperform – and outmark – the competition.

3. Cost and Maintenance of Marking Equipment

In harsh environments, keeping equipment running efficiently over time is always a concern – especially when speed and budgets are tight. But with the right system and regular maintenance, you can dramatically extend the life of your marking equipment and reduce costs.

How MECCO solves it: We educate our customers and help them choose the right system for their processes and budget. We offer preventive maintenance (PM) plans, spare parts kits, and fume extraction systems to minimize downtime and avoid costly repairs.

4. Mark Visibility

Sometimes a mark is present, but it’s difficult to see, scan, or read. This can especially happen after post-processing like painting or galvanizing. And if a mark isn’t visible, it’s useless.

How MECCO solves it: MECCO has a three-point checklist to identify the problem source and find the right fix. First, we confirm proper equipment settings are being used. Second, we make sure the lenses are clean and the pins are sharpened. Third, we test alternative wavelengths, higher wattages, or larger pin sizes, depending on the material. For scanning issues, we may enlarge codes, or adjust the cell structure to improve readability.

5. Global Supply Chain Variability

When your parts are sourced from different suppliers across regions, variations in material or finish can result in inconsistent or unreadable marks. A marking setup (like laser settings or pin depth) that produces high-quality marks on one shipment of parts might not produce the same results on another shipment.

How MECCO solves it: We help manufacturers create a consistent marking process by identifying the right settings and technologies for different materials so every part meets quality and traceability standards, no matter where it comes from.

6. Operator Training and Skill Gaps

Even the most advanced system won’t perform well if operators don’t know how to use or maintain it correctly. Inconsistent mark quality, downtime, or incorrect settings are often the result of a knowledge gap, not a hardware issue. And as teams change or expand, that gap can grow.

How MECCO solves it: Our service and sales teams conduct onsite visits to identify training needs, designate a “MECCO Champion” at the facility, and provide onsite or virtual training by a MECCO-certified service engineer. Our MECCO Success Plan helps ensure operators are properly trained at all times and systems stay optimized.

Choosing the Right Marking Solution

Having served thousands of manufacturers, we’ve learned that no two applications are alike. That’s why we provide a consultative process to understand your materials, environment, and production goals before recommending a solution. It’s all part of The MECCO Experience.

MECCO’s laser and dot peen systems are engineered for performance, built for durability, and backed by a team that’s here to help.

Want to see the results for yourself? Request a live or virtual custom demo or talk to a MECCO expert today.