What industries can benefit from a traceability solution?
With all the advances made in track and trace technology, I’m still surprised by the businesses that have yet to adopt a traceability solution. In this five-part series, I’m going to explore the compliance requirements that require traceability, and some of the more unique applications. This blog will cover traceability solutions 101 and also address which industries could benefit from track and trace technology.
Let’s get this started by talking about basic traceability..
Traceability Solutions 101: What is it?
Traceability is a system that provides information on the origins of an item, usually encoded in a barcode. The barcode is entered into an automated system, which logs in every step of handling along the manufacturing and production processes—like batch numbers, registration points, and quality control checkpoints. Learn More.
How is it used and why is it important?
In food production, we can now use those barcode labels to trace a pint of berries to the farm where they were harvested, and even the day, time, and picker. Manufacturing uses traceability to identify where individual parts and components of a larger product originated. This type of traceability is essential in the event of a product recall. The cost of a single product recall can soar up to millions of dollars in a matter of days, potentially crippling a company. With an effective traceability solution in place, recall management is simplified, narrowing the field to only those items impacted, which enables faster mitigation.
Traceability solutions can bring the following benefits:
- Reduce production faults and waste by identifying rejects sooner in the process.
- Improve supply chain visibility.
- Eliminate batch process errors.
- Improve operational efficiency.
- Decrease inventory costs with faster turns.
Mobile Workforce
Products aren’t the only assets that command a traceability system. With stronger safety and security protocols, many industries have implemented track and trace for employees and visitors. A mobile workforce can be managed through a traceability solution. Direct store delivery and emergency and field service personnel and easily be dispatched and rerouted as needed. Common hardware for field service traceability includes mobile computers like the Zebra TC55, and mobile printers.
Healthcare
Industries, like healthcare, that rely on costly mobile devices and equipment use asset tracking and traceability to locate those items. When the alternative was the expense of replacement, asset tracking provides a healthy ROI. Healthcare industries also utilize RFID tracking on new born babies‘ umbilical cord clips or ankles to identify their parents and the baby’s location at any given time. Common healthcare traceability hardware includes the Zebra MC40 Touch Mobile Computers, CS4070 Barcode Scanners, and HC100 Wristband Printers.
Law Enforcement
Industries like law enforcement that rely on chain of evidence and documentation utilize barcode labels & RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to track the movement of materials that are critical to an investigation and court case.
Traceability also serves an array of other functions in manufacturing, warehousing, retail, and distribution.
As an asset tracking and traceability specialist, we can help you identify opportunities to improve the flow of products, people, and information. Talk to us about your systems and let’s improve the visibility that will lead to increased safety, insight, and profitability. Email us or call (800) 830-9523.
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