Represented by highs and lows in surface height rather than changes in black and white as found in traditional bar codes, Bumpy Bar Codes are indented, pined, cast, etched, stamped, molded or embossed directly into parts or tags, representing serial or part numbers. Bumpy Bar Codes permit work in process (WIP) data collection, traceability and error proofing in environments in which black and white bar coding techniques are ineffective.