Efficient Traceability in Your Supply Chain

September is National Food Safety Month. What better way to discuss food safety than by speaking about three ways to have efficient traceability in your supply chain? There are three primary ways that traceability can assist with your supply chain. Recall control, employing software systems, and understanding quality standards.

So far in 2015, U.S. food companies have recalled approximately 500 different FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service)-and FDA- regulated food products for food safety, quality, and even labeling issues. Current practice at many companies involves recording the lot numbers of the products by hand and placing them into spreadsheets. Theoretically, several errors can occur by typing or writing. If a recall occurs, a company must provide this information within 24 hours. A digital reporting system can trace back where a contaminated batch came from, thus saving time and money for a company that may not be able to recover financially from a recall.

Situations like this highlight the importance of using advanced software systems to manage a company’s supply chain efficiently. These systems can generate barcode labels that include lot numbers, nutritional information, and unique IDs, all of which are automatically recorded in a database. They also ensure compliance by providing labels that meet GS1 standards. By integrating mobile device management solutions with the right software, companies can guarantee that lot numbers and other critical data are captured accurately and in real time, enhancing both efficiency and traceability.

A recent international recall for cucumbers was traced to a Salmonella outbreak in Mexico. What standards apply to foods that are imported? Well, the 2001 Bioterrorism Act states the following: As of Dec. 11, 2006, food processors are required to be able to identify the origin of all food received by lot, code, RFID technology, or other identifier and provide the same information when releasing products. The Act applies to both foreign and domestic food, including all ingredients. Civil and criminal actions can be taken if the information is not provided upon request to FDA within 24 hours. Traceability allows for complete accountability that all quality standards are met, no matter where they are imported from.

In essence, a good traceability system is a great way to save money and even time. Who wants to dig for lot numbers and paperwork?  A reliable traceability system benefits both low-risk and high-risk food producers. With a proper digital reporting system, a consultant will work with a company to set up a reporting process. The consultant will also provide ongoing education, training, and support. From farm to fork, the label can provide a story of where the product started and ended.

Building a Stronger Traceability Strategy Across the Supply Chain

Traceability is not just about complying with regulations; it is about transparency in the supply chain. The entire lifecycle of a product, from the sourcing of raw materials to final delivery, creates information valuable in quality control, identifying operational risks, and reacting quickly to an unexpected event. A complete traceability strategy provides your company with a powerful tool that not only tracks products throughout their lifecycle, but also creates systematic documentation that supports both operational success and customer loyalty.

With the rise and emergence of various global and interconnected supply chains, total visibility is more vital than ever. Correct information in products is critical for manufacturers, food processors, distributors, and retailers to ensure products are handled correctly and delivered safely.

Collecting Accurate Data at All Stages

Good traceability starts with raw data collection. You should be able to keep an automatic record of all your receiving, production, packaging, storage, and shipping events so that there are no problems of variance from what was intended.

Keep organizations consistent with data. Modern data collection technologies help organizations capture information consistently by recording:

• Product identification
• Lot and batch numbers
• Production dates
• Expiration dates
• Shipping information
• Warehouse locations
• Supplier details
• Receiving records

By automating data capture, it guarantees that important information remains accurate throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Improving Visibility with Barcode and RFID Technologies

Barcode and RFID technology are vital for today’s traceability systems. These technologies help organizations identify products faster while ensuring that the digital records in production and distribution operations are precise.

Barcode systems offer quick, accurate product identification for inventory management, warehouse operations, and shipping verification. RFID technology enhances visibility because dozens of products or assets can be identified automatically, without requiring line-of-sight scanning.

Together, these technologies support:

• Faster inventory tracking
• Improved warehouse accuracy
• Automated product identification
• Reduced manual data entry
• Better shipment verification
• Enhanced supply chain visibility

This leads to a quicker and more dependable traceability system that not only accommodates operational performance but also provides compliance with regulations.

Supporting Quality Assurance Programs

Traceability is vital in maintaining the quality of goods. If production steps are recorded, then the quality teams can easily trace back early in the process to investigate issues, find where the affected batch would be, and even drive down possible causes of any problems.

A comprehensive traceability system ensures QA by maintaining in-depth histories of production that address manufacturing processes, inspection records, suppliers, and packaging details.

Benefits include:

• Faster quality investigations
• Improved process consistency
• Better supplier accountability
• Enhanced production monitoring
• More effective corrective actions

Providing organizations with complete product histories enables them to continually improve manufacturing processes while preventing defects from reappearing.

Integrating Traceability with Enterprise Systems

Traceability becomes even more powerful when integrated with enterprise software platforms. Connecting production equipment, warehouse systems, inventory management software, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications creates a continuous flow of information throughout the organization.

Integrated systems enable automatic updates for:

• Inventory transactions
• Production records
• Warehouse movements
• Shipping confirmations
• Supplier information
• Customer orders

This centralized approach eliminates duplicate data entry while improving reporting accuracy and operational visibility.

Supporting Regulatory Compliance

Food manufacturers operate within highly regulated environments where maintaining accurate records is essential. Regulatory requirements continue to evolve, making digital traceability systems increasingly valuable for demonstrating compliance.

Accurate electronic records help organizations maintain documentation related to:

• Lot genealogy
• Product labeling
• Ingredient sourcing
• Production history
• Distribution records
• Shipping documentation

Digital reporting simplifies audits while ensuring required information can be retrieved quickly whenever needed.

Leveraging Mobile Technology for Real-Time Tracking

Mobile technology has transformed the way organizations collect and access traceability information. Rugged mobile computers, handheld barcode scanners, tablets, and wearable devices allow employees to capture information directly at the point of activity.

When supported by Mobile Device Management (MDM), organizations can securely manage mobile devices while ensuring consistent software performance across facilities.

Mobile solutions enable employees to:

• Verify product information
• Scan barcodes instantly
• Update inventory records
• Confirm shipments
• Record inspections
• Access production information

Real-time updates improve data accuracy while reducing delays associated with manual paperwork.

Using Analytics to Drive Continuous Improvement

Beyond supporting compliance, traceability data provides valuable insights that help organizations improve operational performance. Historical records allow businesses to identify trends, monitor supplier performance, evaluate production efficiency, and optimize inventory management.

Organizations can analyze traceability data to improve:

• Production efficiency
• Inventory turnover
• Supplier performance
• Product quality
• Warehouse operations
• Distribution accuracy

These insights support data-driven decision-making while encouraging continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

Creating End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

True traceability extends beyond manufacturing facilities. Modern supply chains require visibility from suppliers through production, warehousing, transportation, and final delivery. End-to-end visibility enables organizations to respond more effectively to disruptions while improving collaboration across supply chain partners.

A connected traceability strategy helps businesses:

• Improve supplier collaboration
• Monitor product movement
• Reduce inventory losses
• Increase customer confidence
• Enhance operational transparency
• Strengthen risk management

By maintaining complete visibility throughout the supply chain, organizations can make faster decisions while improving overall operational resilience.

Building a Future-Ready Traceability System

Organizations need traceability solutions that scale and adapt to ongoing changes in food safety requirements, customer expectations, and regulatory standards. Lowry Solutions enables these goals and objectives with integrated barcode, RFID, enterprise mobility, labeling, and software solutions that improve product visibility through the supply chain and provide data collection capabilities. Together with professional implementation, employee training and 24/7 support, these solutions empower companies establishing traceability processes based on reliable digitalisation systems that are essential to high-quality compliance, operational excellence as well as complete visibility along the supply chain from raw materials up to finished products. An effective tracing system protects consumers and future-proofs a more efficient supply chain that is responsive to changing business and regulatory requirements.

Watch our video on the Packaging Execution System. See how it can assist you in your traceability system.