Definition: What does traceability mean?

In the production industry, traceability describes the ability to trace food or merchandise in general along the production, processing and distribution stages.

The aim is to make it possible to trace when, where and by whom a product was

• obtained
• produced
• processed
• stored
• transported
• used or
• disposed of or recycled.

In its minimal form, traceability provides information about who is the supplier and who is the direct purchaser of a product.

Other terms commonly used are batch traceability, product traceability or tracking and tracing.

What types of traceability are there?

There are two basic types of traceability: downstream tracing and upstream tracing.

Downstream tracing literally means tracing downstream, i.e. the “product flow” from the source (the producer) to the consumer is considered here. The initiative here lies with the manufacturer: they trace their products from the supply chain to the consumer. If defects come to light, the manufacturer can recall the products from the consumer. If the product falls under warranty guidelines, the specific use of the product must also be traceable.

In contrast, upstream tracing begins with the consumer and ends with the producer. For example, if consumers find harmful substances or other defects in a product, they inform the manufacturer, who can then recall the affected product.

What are the advantages of traceability?

If a product is consistently traceable, the individual stages of its life cycle are transparent. For example, you always know where your purchased components and raw materials come from and what quality they are. That alone is a massive advantage. Beyond that, traceability enables you to

• create an essential basis for certification in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001, which requires traceability measures.
• trace products precisely in the event of a customer complaint. This means that it is not necessary to recall all products associated with the product that is the subject of the complaint, but only the products that are actually affected.
• save costs, as the time and financial losses associated with complaints and recalls are reduced.
• conduct a detailed root cause analysis in the event of a complaint, which in turn helps to optimize your supply chain or production. For example, if you find out from a complaint that the raw materials used are inferior, you can switch to a “better” supplier for the future.
• protect consumers in a better way, because your customers also benefit from the transparency of your products.
• create the basis for the digital product passport.

How does traceability work?

Basically, traceability is made up of two elements: On the one hand, you need a central data storage facility and, on the other, a means of accessing this data.

A digital system with explicit tracking and tracing functions is ideal for storing the data. This could be an ERP, a merchandise management system or an MES, for example.

By labeling parts and components or the entire product on the packaging, a link can be established between the product and the data record. Such markings can be QR codes, batch numbers, lot numbers, serial numbers and article numbers, for example. The best-before date, the date of manufacture and the product description are also information carriers for the traceability of a product.

Traceability - more than just a “nice to have”

Even if it is not yet the case in all sectors, product traceability is already mandatory in some areas.

In the food industry, for example. Since January 1, 2005, Regulation (EC) No. 178/2022 has been in force for foodstuffs, which requires all companies in the food chain to trace where the goods come from and where they are delivered to.

Traceability is also hugely important in the automotive industry - what's more, seamless traceability across the entire supply chain is mandatory. Car manufacturers are probably the prime example of downstream tracing. In the automotive industry, for example, the quality management standard for suppliers ISO/TS 16949, the international standard for the functional safety of automobiles ISO 26262 or the Equipment and Product Safety Act, which regulates recalls, apply.

And even if your industry does not yet have to comply with corresponding regulations, traceability brings clear advantages for you and your customers - it creates transparency, trust and, in case of doubt, even competitive advantages.

What is the goal of traceability?

The ultimate goal of traceability is to ensure safety for consumers and manufacturers. It enables the causes of incidents to be investigated and can therefore help to prevent similar incidents in the future. By looking closely at transparent data, it is possible to limit damage quickly - for example, by informing consumers promptly.

An input material comes in at the front, then your workers get to work and a new (part) product is created at the end. At each of these points, data is generated that our worker guidance system weasl tracks and makes usable for traceability.

You can see exactly what this looks like in our free showcase environment.