They're everywhere. Commerce today would falter without the ubiquitous bar code. They have become so commonplace that consumers don't even notice their presence on products any more, regardless of how much space they occupy on a label. Product manufacturers and marketers, however, do see them. Distributors see them, and so do retailers -- and not with the naked eye, either. And when they are seen electronically during shipping and at the store check-out, they had better be perfect. Business depends on an accurately printed bar code.

Bar codes appear in a variety of sizes and styles. The world of bar codes, which is overseen by the Uniform Code Council, is also in a state ...