Quality control6-6 Generic MICR Fundamentals Guide• Periodically (once for each filled output bin): Horizontalposition, vertical position, voids, spots, and MICR lineappearanceWhen a clinical test is running—which many banks requirebefore changing check production—the following additionaldesign factors should be checked to provide a representativetest:• The Xerox printing system should be adjusted tomanufacturer specifications and operator maintenance tasksperformed regularly per the manufacturer's recommendation.• Only paper stock that meets ANSI and Xerox requirementsshould be used.• A large group of documents should be generated, severalthousand at a time.• Test documents must be fresh and undamaged.• The test application should mimic the live data, but itsappearance should not resemble a negotiable document. Theform should represent the correct document size, MICR line,and a unique serial number for each document foridentification purposes.• The test application should be validated for skew, verticalalignment, and character size. (Any change in job resourcesmay alter MICR quality parameters that do not normally vary.)Specifications for testingThe following specifications apply only to MICR characters thatare printed within the clear band. Printing outside the clear bandarea should follow standard xerographic specifications.Note that most MICR line positional errors (horizontal, vertical,skew, and character) are due to poor document design ratherthan problems with the MICR printing system technology.Horizontal positionTo check horizontal positioning, place the check at the bottom ofthe MICR Gauge with the right edge of the check lined up withthe right edge of the gauge. Place the right edge of the firsttransit symbol on the left between the dotted lines in boxes 42and 43 of the gauge (see the following figure).
