Mi Group A division of Industrial Network Systems Providing MI solutions to the manufacturing industry for 20 years
PHONE | 847.298. 4777
Track and Trace is a solution that ensures the integrity of products as they move through the manufacturing process and on to the consumer. It is also used to improve productivity, as well as profitability. Track and trace applications have found the most utility in closing the product quality loop within the manufacturing system. The goal is to reduce scrap, make fewer bad products and improve customer satisfaction with the product.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRACK & TRACE?
Track and Trace solutions can provide manufacturing records to upper level systems and provide operational benefits such as:
- Provide an accurate accounting of products consumed in processing, so that yields, wastes, and rework streams can be clearly identified and improved.
- Reduce safety stocks due to increased understanding of day-to-day inventory needs.
- Improve delivery of orders since machine efficiencies are better known.
- Satisfy the inspectors at the federal, state or local regulatory agency with electronic track & trace, by providing the documentation necessary as part of a mock or real recall event.
Supplying accurate information quickly to the public not only ensures a safe product, it also provides piece of mind to manufacturers that the products supplied are something they can put their name on.
WHAT ARE SOME ASPECTS OF TRACK & TRACE?
Ideally, product genealogy starts back at the raw materials point-of-origin and tracks the path all the way through the manufacturing process, eventually making it all the way up to the shelf where the product is ultimately sold.
Focusing on the manufacturing process is a big step in keeping track of a product's history.
Elements of a track & trace solution include identifying the following:
- Materials: Understand the supplied ingredients and their origin and usage in the product.
- Machinery: Collect and track the machinery that touched the product while processing.
- Manpower: Track the operations staff that came in contact with the goods in question.
- Methods: Capture the recipe of the finished good.
WHY USE TRACK & TRACE OVER A PAPER-BASED SYSTEM?
The major challenge for companies that use a paper-based tracking system is that years of paper trails produce an overwhelming amount of data, making any data tracking laborious, inefficient and susceptible to human error; not to mention the number of man hours associated with keeping the captured data organized and useable.
In addition, when one considers the number of manufacturers who “touch” a single ingredient used to manufacture a final product, the task of gathering this information is even more daunting. As a result, careful attention must be paid to the managing of the information collected, and to the effective transfer of information along the supply chain.
WHAT ARE SOME PRODUCT EFFICIENCIES OF A TRACK & TRACE SOLUTION?
- Accurately accounting for raw material processes
- Authenticating product at the item/dose level
- Accurately tracing processed products
- Accurately managing recalls
- Accurately managing returns
- Speeding up processing/receiving/replenishment times
- Reducing infiltration of counterfeit pharmaceuticals into the supply chain
- Reducing errors
- Providing accurate auditing and inventory forecasting
- Reducing inventory management expenses
- Reducing stock levels
HOW CAN MI GROUP HELP WITH TRACK & TRACE SOLUTIONS?
MIGroup’s track and trace solutions incorporate best-in-breed technology with in-depth industry know-how. Data capture and tracking methodologies are configurable to suit the individual and unique needs of each and every manufacturing environment in industries ranging from food to electronics, healthcare to automotive.
Contact us today to understand how we can help you minimize your organization’s potential product recall costs.
Manufacturing Intelligence Digest
OEE Insight Series
Want to learn more about OEE? CLICK HERE to sign up for the full OEE Insight Series