File 09: Traceability and identification
How a product is identified through its life, from batch code to complaint, so a problem can be found and fixed.
The file guide
Working guides in this file
09Batch Codes, Lot Numbers and Serial Numbers: Which Code Fits Which Product Picking the narrowest code that still covers units made alike for a stainless steel water bottle in a sports goods warehouse: this guide explains batch, lot and serial codes in plain terms, shows how two production runs mixed in one pallet is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a stainless steel water bottle findable after sale. 09Being Ready for a Recall: Traceability That Works Under Pressure Being able to list every affected unit and reach its buyers fast for a slow cooker in a kitchen appliance brand preparing for a busy winter: this guide explains recall readiness in plain terms, shows how a suspect batch already spread across dozens of shops is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a slow cooker findable after sale. 09Finding the Gaps in Product Traceability and Closing Them One by One Finding the exact step where the trail breaks and fixing that step for a garden hose reel in a garden centre with several outdoor suppliers: this guide explains traceability gaps in plain terms, shows how a summer delivery with codes only on the outer pallet is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a garden hose reel findable after sale. 09Following a Product Through Every Hand in Its Supply Chain Keeping one unbroken link of records from maker to shop for a cotton baby blanket in a textile supply chain from mill to retailer: this guide explains supply chain traceability in plain terms, shows how a fabric batch that changed supplier mid season is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a cotton baby blanket findable after sale. 09How Ordinary Products Stay Findable After They Are Sold Linking each unit to one delivery and one supplier for a wooden toy train in a neighbourhood toy shop: this guide explains basic traceability in plain terms, shows how a loose part reported by a parent is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a wooden toy train findable after sale. 09QR Codes and Digital Identifiers for Everyday Products Giving each batch a scannable code that points at its own record for a folding camping chair in a campsite shop with a phone based till: this guide explains digital identifiers in plain terms, shows how a printed code that smudges after one wet weekend is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a folding camping chair findable after sale. 09The Traceability Records Worth Keeping, and the Ones That Waste Shelf Space Keeping only records that answer which unit, which batch and which buyer for a cast iron frying pan in a cookware retailer with a back room archive: this guide explains traceability records in plain terms, shows how a filing cabinet full of papers nobody can search is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a cast iron frying pan findable after sale. 09Tracing Components and Spare Parts Inside a Finished Product Giving components their own identity apart from the finished product for a replacement blender blade in a spare parts counter in an appliance shop: this guide explains component traceability in plain terms, shows how a spare part that fits three models but suits only one is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a replacement blender blade findable after sale. 09Tracing One Product After a Customer Complaint Comes In Working backwards from the complained about unit to its batch for a plug in air freshener in a customer service desk in a home goods chain: this guide explains complaint tracing in plain terms, shows how a complaint with no code, no date and no photo is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a plug in air freshener findable after sale. 09Tracing Products That Are Sold Online and Posted to Buyers Joining the online order to the physical unit that was posted for a rechargeable desk lamp in an online store shipping from a spare room: this guide explains online traceability in plain terms, shows how an order that cannot be matched to a parcel is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a rechargeable desk lamp findable after sale. 09What Happens to Traceability When a Product Is Relabelled Carrying the original identity through every new label for a glass storage jar set in a repacking bench in a small wholesaler: this guide explains relabelled product traceability in plain terms, shows how an original batch code covered by a new sticker is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep a glass storage jar set findable after sale. 09Whose Name Should Be on the Product: Maker and Importer Identification Putting a reachable business name and contact route on the product for an electric hand mixer in a homeware import business: this guide explains manufacturer and importer identification in plain terms, shows how a label that names a brand but no reachable business is handled, and sets out the checks and records that keep an electric hand mixer findable after sale.