Skip to content
LEANODM
Menu
Page Sections

QUALITY / IDENTIFICATION & RECORDS

Product Traceability & Material Control

Connect product and material batches to order, production, inspection and delivery records.

Documented controls connect orders, material batches, production, inspection and delivery information. Identification and storage controls help keep material status clear as products move through the factory.

RECORD RELATIONSHIPSTRACE
Reviewed contractOrder reference and agreed requirements
  • Delivery noteProduct, quantity, date and shipment details
  • Production work orderManufacturing content and requirements
    • Final inspection reportQuality findings for the product lot
    • Work record
      • Material batch
        • Manufacturer
Agree the required traceability extent for the product and order.
Order and batch referencesVisible material statusInvestigation support

02 / IDENTIFICATION & SEGREGATION

Material Identification, Status & Segregation

Physical identification and the corresponding records distinguish material waiting for a decision from accepted items and items requiring controlled disposition.

BEFORE THE DECISION

Awaiting inspection

Receive and identify the material, keep it in the designated waiting area and initiate the relevant inspection or verification route.

AFTER ACCEPTANCE

Accepted for the next stage

Apply the required status identification and retain the acceptance record so warehouse and production teams can recognize the decision.

WHEN AN ISSUE IS FOUND

Controlled disposition

Identify and segregate nonconforming items. Review return, rework, scrap or an authorized concession; keep the decision and any required customer agreement recorded.

Status is a recorded decision supported by labels, designated areas or containers. Reworked products require the relevant reinspection before acceptance.

How nonconformities are handled

03 / STORAGE & CUSTOMER MATERIALS

Storage Protection & Customer-Supplied Materials

The product-protection procedure connects receiving, storage, issuing, handling and delivery. Material identity and inspection status need to remain recognizable throughout those activities.

Review incoming material controls
Batch identification and stock rotation
Identify the material, specification, quantity and batch reference. Use stock-location records and first-in, first-out issuing to support orderly material flow.
Storage and handling protection
Use suitable storage locations, containers and handling methods to avoid deterioration or damage. Preserve labels and check stock condition when inventory is reviewed.
Customer-supplied material
Identify it as customer property, maintain separate inventory records and appropriate protection, and control its use for the intended customer’s product. Communicate abnormal usage through the customer-coordination team.
Damaged or uncertain stock
Re-identify material found damaged, deteriorated or otherwise abnormal and refer it to Quality for a decision before further use.

04 / CUSTOMER FEEDBACK & INVESTIGATION

Quality Investigation & Affected-Batch Review

Inspection and delivery records support a focused response to a quality concern. Where a return or recall is needed, the documented procedure calls for coordination with the customer, a defined plan and controlled handling of returned goods.

  1. 01

    Identify the reference

    Collect the product, order or shipment reference, batch or date code, defect description and available samples.

  2. 02

    Review the records

    Check related production, material, inspection and delivery information to establish the affected scope.

  3. 03

    Coordinate containment

    Review stock and delivered quantities with the relevant teams and customer; agree the response for the identified issue.

  4. 04

    Control returned goods

    Identify and isolate returned goods. Review the approved disposition, including rework and reinspection where appropriate.

  5. 05

    Verify corrective action

    Investigate the cause, follow the action taken and confirm effectiveness. Retain the investigation and follow-up records.

Bring the references that help locate the records.

Share the order or shipment number, product revision, visible batch or date code, affected quantity and defect description. Photographs, retained samples and packaging labels can help clarify the issue.

Corrective action and effectiveness review

BUYER QUESTIONS

Traceability and material questions.

What does the documented traceability process connect?

It connects the contract or order with the production work order, work records, material batches and suppliers, final inspection report and delivery note. Production planning defines the required traceability extent when it is needed by the contract, applicable requirements or internal management.

Do you provide serial-number tracking for every individual unit?

The documented procedures describe order, material-batch, production and delivery records. They do not establish universal individual-unit serial tracking. Define any serial-number, barcode or digital-record requirements during the project review so feasibility and the required records can be agreed.

How are rejected materials kept from unintended use?

Rejected materials are identified and placed in designated areas or containers while disposition is reviewed. Rework, return, scrap or an authorized concession follows the relevant approval route. Repaired or reworked products are checked again as required before acceptance.

How are customer-supplied materials managed?

The product-protection procedure calls for customer-material identification, separate inventory records and suitable storage protection. It also calls for communication of abnormal material use and control to prevent customer-supplied material being used for another customer’s product.

How does traceability support a customer complaint or recall?

Quality reviews the available production, inspection and delivery information to identify the affected scope. The relevant teams coordinate with the customer on containment and any agreed return or recall plan, isolate returned goods, investigate the cause and verify corrective action.

What information helps start a quality investigation?

Provide the order or shipment reference, product and revision, visible batch or date code, affected quantity, defect description and photographs or samples. Preserve packaging labels where possible. These references help the team find the related records and assess the affected scope.

YOUR PRODUCT / YOUR QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

Define the traceability your project needs.

Start with the product, order structure and information you need to retrieve. Agree the record links, identification and retention needs before production.

Use the inquiry form to prepare your brief, or share the checklist with your existing project contact. Agree a confidential exchange before sharing restricted records. The topic selector works in your browser and does not submit information.

Select the topics for your review