The product traceability is an essential process in the management of supply chains, as it enables every stage of a product’s life cycle to be tracked. This system is particularly important in sectors such as the food and pharmaceutical industries, where it is essential to identify any anomalies quickly in order to minimise risks to public health and maintain consumer confidence.
In this article, we’ll tell you What is product traceability?, the different types, the legal framework and the steps required to ensure they function properly.
Product traceability – what is it?
Traceability is defined as registration system of the stages involved in the production and distribution process. This enables each stage to be closely monitored, from the receipt of raw materials to the product reaching the target consumer. As part of the supply chain, it requires a high level of precision to ensure not only that the standards of quality, but also the product safety (e.g. the food industry).
In this regard, traceability enables detect defective or contaminated items, which is essential for the implementation of corrective and containment measures, such as the withdrawal of stock from key retail outlets. Indeed, the methods used in this system facilitate the identification of groups or batches where the problem recurs. By providing a specific procedure and structure, traceability helps to minimise or eliminate the negative consequences that consumption of the product might entail.
Types of traceability
There are three types of product traceability. These are set out below.
Upstream traceability
This type of traceability is also known as backward traceabilityand focuses on identifying the materials that make up the product that reached the end consumer. When is it necessary to use this method? It is very common in consumer industries, such as the food industry, where speed and efficiency are required in the response to health alerts. The aim, in any case, is to identify the cause of the fault or problem.
Internal traceability
Internal traceability concerns the production process itself within the company or factory. This means that the most important aspects of the following stages are managed: receipt of raw materials, manufacturing and preparation for distribution. But why is this type of traceability important? Although cost savings and process optimisation form the basis, the aim of this tracking is to ensure product quality before it is placed on the market.
Downstream traceability
Downstream traceability, ormoving forward aims to track the product’s journey from the moment it leaves the company or factory until it is consumed. The focus is on ensuring efficient distribution and sales, particularly by taking into account the applicable standards and regulations. This type of traceability, moreover, is essential for recalling products that may be faulty or dangerous. By understanding the supply chain, this process is made easier, even in the selective withdrawals.
Traceability and regulation: legal basis
Product traceability is regulated by laws and regulations which vary depending on the country and the industrial sector; indeed, international regulations apply with regard to the import or export of products, as is the case in the European Union. Specifically, these regulations set minimum standards to ensure the transparency and integrity of the supply chain, but also consumer safety.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that these regulations address the need for a risk management plan, particularly when distributing food products that are susceptible to cross-contamination and other problems. As mentioned, tracking products throughout the supply chain facilitates decision-making, the implementation of measures and emergency responses. The most common action is the product recall.
The EU, for example, has TRACES, a platform that enables users to check and manage the certification of products of animal and non-animal origin. Among its benefits for traders and consumers are administrative transparency, food and health safety, and improved cooperation and coordination with the authorities of the EU member states.
However, companies are required to manage documentation, data and other information relating to products in the event of audits, inspections or judicial investigations.
How do you implement product traceability?
These are the steps required to implement product traceability efficiently.
Assign labels to raw materials
The first step in effectively managing a product’s traceability is to assign labels to the raw materials. Commonly, the following are used: barcodes, QR codes or, in the food industry, RFID tags. In fact, in this sector, use is made of EAN 12 and 128 codes.
However, to do this, we need criteria for grouping products, in other words, creating batches. This is useful when products need to be recalled, as not all batches have the same characteristics, dates of receipt, processing dates, amongst other things.
Storing batch and product information
It is essential to keep a detailed record of information on batches and processing activities at each stage of production, as this facilitates the identification of the raw materials associated with the products. In fact, batch numbers are also assigned to finished products. But what other information is included here? Data on storage, quantities processed and any incidents are taken into account.
To implement technologies to picking automatic
The automation in the labelling process It is essential for saving both time and resources, as well as making product traceability a more efficient process. What is required for this? The company must implement suitable software to create and read labels. These technologies enable information to be collected automatically in real time, which improves not only storage but also product distribution.
Monitor incidents
It is also necessary to identify and record any variations or problems during the production and distribution of the product. Why is this useful? By having detailed information, those responsible for to analyse and study traceability They can quickly identify and verify the cause of the fault or problem. As a result, work orders are opened either to rectify the fault or to arrange for the defective batch to be withdrawn.
Check traceability
Finally, it is necessary to to check that the traceability system complies with both internal and external requirements (regulations, guidelines, standards, certifications, amongst others). This ensures that all processes and records are carried out in a timely and correct manner, which would result in a rapid response to any product-related incident.
