His background includes responsibilities in engineering, systems integration, product development, product marketing and operations management. Mr. Mara does not sell hardware or software but does provide education, information, research and project management expertise to various business sectors.
To Automatic Identification Users in product manufacturing and distribution contemplating the use of automatic data collection technologies for factory floor reporting, inventory accounting, and asset tracking, Mr. Mara provides planning and implementation guidance. He has developed cost effective, bar code based, component warranty tracking schemes for popular accounting software used by small enterprises.
Mr. Mara assists end users during the analysis and planning phases of a project and assists in the preparation of Master Plans for bar code implementation. Master plans begin with the design of required identification bar codes on internal documents, product item labels, carton and shipping labels. Review of target business processes such as Receiving, Put-away, Order Pick, and Customer Order and Ship Verification lead to a prioritized implementation strategy. Completed plans include preparation of cost and ROI estimates.
For Suppliers in the Retail Supply Chain seeking compliance and print quality assurance advice, Mr. Mara provides an on-site introduction to the U.P.C. "System" and its specifications and print requirements. The client' product numbering and packaging schemes are reviewed, and guidance is provided in code assignment, acquiring a U.P.C. Manufacturer's Number, and the generation of internal and contractor print specifications. He has also consulted on the design of UPC point-of-sale discount coupons.
He provides guidance to corporations on the subject of printing reliable bar code labels in compliance to applicable trading partner standards using various printing technologies with a unique understanding of the scanning requirements at the data collection point. This involves the matching of the print technology to the media as well as the numbering systems and symbology formats.
He conducts Print Technology Searches to solve unique application problems such as print resistance to environmental and process chemistry exposure. Solutions provide the matching of inks and receivers for a given printing technology as well as consideration of the requirements of the bar code scanners.
Manufacturers of bar code printing and scanning technology and Systems Integrators contract Mr. Mara to perform new product evaluations, market studies, product launch support. These confidential services make use of Mr. Mara's extensive end user contacts and vertical market application knowledge.
For Trade Associations seeking to assist their membership's understanding and use of these technologies and seeking guidance in the establishment of Bar Code Identification Standards among trading partners, Mr. Mara researches the applicable standards and presents industry tailored educational forums.
With over 40 industrial clients, Mr. Mara provides consulting services in the design of automatic data capture systems and bar code printing. His background includes responsibilities in engineering, systems integration, product development, marketing and operations management. As a consultant, he has been providing market studies, product evaluations, product launch support for clients in the automatic identification and materials handling industries. He has also participated in the planning of bar code related, data collection projects among a number of industrial and consumer product, manufacturing and distribution clients.
Mr. Mara provides guidance to corporations on the subject of printing reliable bar code labels in compliance to applicable standards using various printing technologies with a unique understanding of the scanning requirements at the data collection point. This involves the matching of the print technology to the media as well as the numbering systems and symbology formats.
Prior to establishing his consulting practice in 1992, Mr. Mara was the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Atech Systems, the importer and North American distributor of Atech, Swedot, and Antonson brand, thermal technology printers, manufactured by Atech Printer AB of Gothenburg, Sweden (now UBI Printer AB). These printers were used primarily for printing bar coded airline baggage tags and industrial shipping labels.
Before joining Atech Systems, he held the position of Director of Market Development at Computer Identics Corporation with assignments in both the U.S. and in Europe. In this role, he directed the application of bar code printing and scanning technology for manufacturing, quality control, shop floor data collection and materials handling automation.
Mr. Mara's expertise includes:
He is speaker and author on bar code printing and scanning application topics. He served as a member of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Bar Code Project Team and was a co-author of AIAG Standard B-4. He also co-authored the U.P.C. Case Symbol Specification for the Uniform Code Council and authored the A.I. 8004, Asset Serial Number, "Universal Serial Number format". Mr. Mara is a graduate of Northeastern University, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Materials Handling Education Foundation, and Concord Technologies, Inc. He is a charter member of AIDC-100 and has also been a member of the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM). Mr. Mara is a frequent conference speaker at the IMI Print Technology Workshops as well as a number of university short courses on Automatic Identification.
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