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To discuss the application of direct part marking identification (DPMI) using 2D matrix codes, the use of which is increasing in industries as diverse as automotive and medical instruments.Design/methodology/approach – The benefits of 2D codes are explained, emphasising that they have sufficient storage capacity to provide data for tracking a part during its manufacture and through the supply chain and allow traceability throughout its lifetime. It describes the operation of Cognex, one of the leading manufacturers of ID products and also the world's largest supplier of machine vision systems is Cognex. It explains that initially the electronics industry exploited Cognex' code reading technology and an application at a German board manufacturer is described. Another system, at a diesel engine injector manufacturer in France, has 42 Cognex systems reading 2D codes and guiding robots in assembly. Also described is a new range of Cognex hand‐held and fixed‐mount 1D and 2D code readers “loaded” with software that allows reading in difficult conditions and with degraded or partially obscured codes.Findings – The DPMI market has expanded into industries other than automotive, which has prompted Cognex to establish a new division of ID products.Originality/value – The paper emphasises the importance of 2D codes in product traceability and indicates how vision technology is being utilised to read these codes even under difficult conditions.

The resolution capabilities of cameras, modern pattern recognition algorithms, and the physical capabilities of robots allow for the creation of machine vision solutions in many production situations. In this paper, examples are given for using vision at various stages of automotive production. Specifically, machine vision is used for robust part inspection, operator part placement verification, 3D robotic guidance, and a combination thereof. These solutions to car‐making certainly suggest other applications in other industries. With new and more versatile robots with more and more sensitive and sophisticated pattern recognition systems, new applications are only limited by the imagination.

Outlines the factors causing the automotive industry to increase machine vision application, reviews new developments in vision technology that are targeted at expanding and improving it use in the automotive industry, reports on an innovative application of vision guided robotics at DaimlerChrysler

The recent introduction of low‐cost vision sensors has greatly increased the range of applications for vision. Within the arena of automated assembly there are a number of tasks that vision is suited to and these are outlined. Also the idea of distributing vision throughout the assembly process together with networking via Ethernet is examined.

An account of some of the machine vision systems on display at the 2001 Manufacturing Week exhibition held at the NEC in Birmingham. A re‐occurring theme was 2D code reading and descriptions are given of products and some applications from Toyota Tsusho, DVT Corporation and Cognex. Also described are miniature contact assemblies exhibited by Micro Contacts, including the development of an assembly for automotive airbag sensors in which vision inspection plays a part in maintaining quality and improving production.