This identification and traceability procedure can assist your business comply with AS/NZS ISO 9001 2015, Quality Management Systems clauses:
The procedure can assist you define the methods to identify the status and traceability of your business’s production and service provisions.
Identification and traceability is the process of tracking products, items or services from their point of origin to their final destination.
Traceability is the ability to follow the movement of a product through the supply chain, from its source to the consumer.
Unique identification is the process of assigning a distinctive identifier to a product. These identifiers can be used to track the product through a supply chain and to recall the product if necessary.
Identification and traceability typically involves the allocation and tracking of a batch number, work order number, unique serial number, barcode and/or revision number, as applicable to a product, item or service.
An identification and traceability procedure is a system designed to uniquely identify and track products, materials, or components throughout their lifecycle. This ensures that each item can be traced back to its source, allowing for accurate record-keeping, quality assurance and effective recall management.
Key components of an identification and traceability procedure typically include:
Identification and traceability procedures are essential in industries where product safety, quality, or regulatory compliance is critical. Examples include food manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, automotive manufacturing, and electronics manufacturing.
Identification and traceability is a requirement when producing many of the products and services in numerous industries. For example, in the food industry, it is essential to be able to identify and trace products to ensure food safety.
In the pharmaceutical industry, it is important to be able to identify outputs and trace products to ensure the quality and efficacy of medicines. In the cosmetics industry, it is important to be able to identify and trace products to ensure the safety of consumers.
By tracking products from their point of origin to their final destination, businesses can ensure that products and services are of the highest quality and meet all safety, quality and regulatory standards.
Note: Records of identification and traceability should be maintained, monitored and measured as required by a responsible person(s) as ‘documented information’ and can be used as evidence for audit purposes.
Identification and traceability systems can provide businesses with a wide range of benefits. Having a suitable means to identify the status of outputs that allow businesses to collect and store data on their measurement requirements throughout production can be imperative for success.
Also, having the required documented information necessary to enable traceability to control the unique identification of the outputs can be used to track and manage inventory, improve product quality, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction.
Note: Non-critical materials or supplies which are not incorporated into a final product, or which serve only to support facilities or operations do not need to be subjected to traceability and identification processes.