1. A welding consumable comprising: a welding rod configured for a stick welding process, the welding rod comprising: a first physical mark indicating a first location on the welding rod proximate to a first end of the welding rod; and a second physical mark indicating a second location on the welding rod proximate to a second end of the welding rod; wherein the first physical mark and the second physical mark are configured to be detected by a camera-based detection system to determine a remaining length of the welding rod, a consumed length of the welding rod, a rate of use of the welding rod, a dipping rate of the welding rod, or some combination thereof.