Today, the importance of quality is increasing in every process including production, introduction of the products to the market, reaching the consumers and usage. The compliance with the ISO standards and backward tracking can be provided using the Serial/Lot Number Tracking System.
The functionality of tracking the production order for which a product or a commercial good is produced, the raw materials and semi finished goods used in the production process and the purchase date of the goods used is called backward tracking. Backward tracking is an important part of quality management.
The tracking transaction is important to determine the finished goods for which a defective material is used. It is easier to take precautions if the other finished goods manufactured using such raw material are known.
Each material transaction is assigned with a Lot or Serial Number during material input for backward tracking. The Output transactions for the inventory are performed according to this assigned number. Furthermore, the production order of the finished good is determined by looking at the Lot Number in the Input from Production Slip. All these transactions generate the Lot and Serial Number Tracking System.
The Tracking tab is used to define whether or not the materials will be tracked by assigning Lot/Serial Numbers. The information recorded in the Tracking tab:
Tracking Method: This field is used to specify whether or not the lot/serial numbers will be tracked and to determine the tracking method. The Tracking method has three options:
- No Tracking
- Lot Number
- Serial Number
- Serial Group
When No Tracking is selected, the Lot/Serial Numbers for that Material Class are not tracked.
Lot is used as the lot or group number. A certain quantity of inventory entering the company is defined as lot or group and such group is assigned a descriptive code during the input transaction for tracking and control purposes. This code is called the Lot Number. When the tracking is performed using the assigned Lot Numbers, each material input or output transaction is assigned with a Lot Number. The number assigned here is applied to any input or output quantities in the slip or invoice.
Serial Number is a descriptive code assigned to each inventory entering the company during input transactions for tracking and control purposes. When the tracking is performed using the assigned serial numbers, each material input or output transaction is assigned with a Serial Number. Therefore, any input or output inventory has a different Serial Number.
When Serial Group is selected, serial numbers are assigned to the material collectively. This option increases performance and provides easiness in usage.
The tracking method to be used can be determined in batch for all inventories. To do so, the Tracking Method parameter located in the Material Management Parameters in the Definitions menu of the Administration section is used. The Tracking method parameter has three options: No Tracking, Lot Number, Serial Number and Serial Group. If the materials are to be tracked, the method to be used is determined by selecting one of the Lot, Serial Number or Serial Group options. The selection made is transferred as default to the Tracking Method field of the materials.
In the Logo application, the Tracking Method can be changed from the Material records. However, the Tracking Method of the transacted Materials cannot be changed.
Divisible Lot Size: When the Tracking Method Lot Number is selected, this field can be filled in. The Lot Number is applied to any input or output quantities in the slip or invoice. However, if such quantities will be partially processed, this box should not be checked.
During Requirement Calculation: When the Tracking Method Lot Number is selected, this field can be filled in. If the Material Class is used in production processes, this field can be used to determine how the lot units will be used while the Requirement List is being generated.
There are two options:
- Lot Unit Distributable
- Lot Unit Divisible
When the Lot Unit Distributable box is checked, the lot unit is distributed as necessary according to the quantity used in production. When the Lot Unit Divisible box is checked, the lot units are merged as necessary.