The definition of quality, fundamental for 4.0 industries, regulated by ISO 8402 refers to the concept of traceability. It’s becoming increasingly important for smart factories to be able to trace the history and location of a product through an identification code.
The implementation of traceability systems is a process to begin as soon as possible, to start collecting data and seeing the results of the application of these technologies on the effectiveness of production. Three of the major company benefits following the management of traceability are considered below.
1) Quality management
Traceability is linked to the concept of information management: this memory is able to add value to each step of the production chain, ensuring a higher quality of the final product.
Checking the conformity of products is much easier: this also positively influences customer care, which is able to manage any complaints for damaged or non-compliant products in a timely manner.
2) Improvement of the supply chain
The data-driven approach becomes central the monitoring of the supply chain: thanks to the identification codes that collect information on each production step, it is possible to know the point in the chain where delays and inefficiencies accumulate. It becomes less expensive for companies to organize timely interventions to solve problems.
The increase in efficiency not only improves production and distribution but contributes to a more precise rationalization of logistics management, reducing the risk of errors.
3) Transparency with stakeholders
The traceability of a product allows you to supervise materials, information, processes along the entire value chain. This allows not only to have greater control over efficiency, but also to be able to monitor the financial flows that occur in the various production steps.
All the stakeholders involved, from the producer to the wholesaler, from the retailer to the consumer, can have access to information in a transparent way, thus improving the commercial relationship with all interlocutors. It therefore becomes an important competitive advantage that a company can offer in creating strategic partnerships.
