System and method for improved quality management in a product logistic chain

1. A product unit specific indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedence of at least one acceleration threshold, said indicator comprising:

a mechanical indicator having a first operative orientation prior to exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold and having a second operative orientation following exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold;

at least a first part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said first operative orientation, and

at least a second part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said second operative orientation.

2. A product unit specific indicator according to claim 1 and wherein said mechanical indicator includes at least one pin which maintains said mechanical indicator in said first operative orientation.

3. A product unit specific indicator according to claim 2 and wherein said exceedence of at least one acceleration threshold causes breakage of said at least one pin, causing said mechanical indicator to assume said second operative orientation.

4. A product unit specific indicator according to claim 2 and wherein said exceedence of at least one acceleration threshold causes removal of said at least one pin, causing said mechanical indicator to assume said second operative orientation.

5. A quality management system for products comprising:

a multiplicity of product unit specific indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedence of at least one acceleration threshold, each of said indicators comprising:

a mechanical indicator having a first operative orientation prior to exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold and having a second operative orientation following exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold;

at least a first part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said first operative orientation, and

at least a second part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said second operative orientation;

an indicator reader operative to read said product unit specific indicators and to provide output indications; and

a product type specific indication interpreter operative to receive said output indications and to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.

6. A quality management system according to claim 5 and wherein said indicator reader is a bar code reader.

7. A method for quality management for products comprising:

attaching to products a multiplicity of product unit specific indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedence of at least one acceleration threshold, each of said indicators comprising:

a mechanical indicator having a first operative orientation prior to exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold and having a second operative orientation following exceedance of said at least one acceleration threshold;

at least a first part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said first operative orientation, and

at least a second part of said mechanical indicator being readable as part of a bar code when said mechanical indicator is in said second operative orientation;

reading said product unit specific indicators and providing output indications therefrom; and

interpreting said output indications to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.