Does anyone know of a simple traceability software?

Does anyone know of a simple traceability software where we can keep track of lot codes and where they ship to? Thanks, Mike

Pretty simple to just do that in Excel or Access.

Marshall

Thanks, I will look into how to set that up. How do most companies deal with traceability?

Mike

Mike,

Traceability, at it's most basic comprises the following:

1) Record of materials (raw materials/packaging) received - Date received, quantity of materials received, lot number of materials received, supplier of materials received.

2. Record of materials used - How much of what lot number of what material went into what product.

3. Record of finished products shipped - How much product was shipped where.

To do proper traceability, you need to be able to show "one step forward/one step back".

In your OP however, you state that you just want to track lot codes and where they ship to.

That's really a simple five column Excel Sheet:

Date

Product

Lot #

Quantity

Shipped To

Marshall

I guess the question would be, what is the best solution for recording traceability so that it can be found when needed for test recall/recall?

Mike

The best solution is to ensure that your people are properly recording lot numbers and quantities.

The best electronic traceability system in the world is worthless if the people that are entering the data are not entering the correct data.

We have a fairly robust system where I work, but the results of our traceability system exercises show that now and again, we can't account for 100% of what we are trying to trace. So, I have put in place daily reconciliations of what the people on the floor document that they are putting into inventory and what actually is input into the stock management program.

As with all things, it really comes down to training your people so that they understand why it is so important to properly record information that deals with traceability.

If you choose to use Excel or Access, you have to limit the inputs by your people so that they are all the same by using drop downs or other data validation.

98760 Chocolate Bars and Brand X Chocolate Bars may be the same thing, but if you are doing a quick Find in Excel or are doing a quick filter in Access, they are not the same thing.

I know these are really general answers to your questions, so if you can provide some more specifics about what you are actually trying to trace, it might give people more insight to better answer your questions.

Marshall

Most larger companies use a ERP/MRP software of some type.    They are not simple but quite complex, and certainly not inexpensive.   

Most erp/mrp systems will have a recall report of some kind where you enter a item # and lot # and it provides a report with all of the raw inputs, manufacturing info, product on hand, and where product shipped, etc.   That part is simple.   

As mgourley stated - garbage in = garbage out.    improper set up, data errors, rougue transactions, etc can quickly create a mess that goes on for an extended period of time across many lots.   

Hello 

SAP is a great tool

Leila