To Trace or not to Trace, that is the question
EMA As our Smart Factory Showcase continues building momentum in the Industry 4.0, manufacturing and technology space, it’s time to share some insights into what we’ll be covering. Each showcase covers several key areas of operation at Nautech Electronics. These include sales and planning, systems, connectivity, research and development, production, testing, facilities, smart business models and implementation strategies. Industry 4.0 and the showcase are all about highlighting how a range of digital technologies enhance manufacturing performance, output, monitoring and control, keeping businesses globally competitive. Today, we’ll look at all things Traceability and help you decide whether implementing a traceability system might work to keep your business globally competitive. What is Traceability? In manufacturing, Traceability, or “Trace” and “Ability”, is the process of gathering and managing data related to your manufacturing processes. It allows you to effectively track all parts and products involved in manufacturing operations including history, location, status. It provides visibility and transparency from the moment raw materials enter your factory through to tracking your final products as they are exported, sold or shipped. Traceability systems use technologies such as QR codes, barcodes, sensors, IoT (internet of things), RFID (radio frequency identification) to trace the products or parts and relay the information back to a centralised system. There are two perspectives when it comes to product traceability, these include: Chain traceability This is forward and backward product traceability – This means that manufacturers can easily track products from raw material to the distributor, which ensures the distributors or consumers can understand where the product came from. In some sectors such as food and beverage, it is a requirement to trace at least one step forward and one step backwards in the supply chain. Internal traceability This is about monitoring the movement of parts and products within a limited […]