Complete traceability in production — this is how traceability succeeds

What does traceability mean?

Traceability is the ability to understand all relevant data of a product throughout its entire life cycle — from raw material to production to delivery.

It addresses the central question:
What was produced when, where, how, by whom and with what?

In manufacturing practice, this includes:

• Serial numbers or batch identification

• process data (e.g. temperature, pressure, machine parameters)

• Material flows and tool applications

• Test and quality data

• Personnel and machine information

This data must not only be collected, but also intelligently linked together and stored permanently.

Why traceability is becoming increasingly important in production

The requirements for transparency and documentation are increasing — for regulatory reasons (e.g. ISO, FDA, EU regulations), for quality assurance or due to growing customer expectations.

Some key benefits:

1. Respond quickly in the event of an error

Complaints or recalls can be precisely narrowed down Which products are affected. This saves time, money and protects reputation.

2. Quality improvement

By tracing process parameters and test data, patterns can be identified and sources of error can be systematically eliminated.

3. Use optimization potential

Traceability makes processes measurable — a decisive lever for continuous improvement and OEE growth.

4. Audit and compliance capacity

Traceability is often a prerequisite for certifications or the supply of certain industries (e.g. automotive, medical technology, aviation).

5. Integration into supply chains

Customers and partners today expect digital traceability — ideally across systems down to the raw material.

Traceability in practice: The three layers of traceability

For traceability in production to work, various levels must work together seamlessly:

1. Identification

serial numbers, batches, RFID, bar codes, or QR codes

2. Data collection

MDA, PDA, ODC, quality data, employee data, etc.

3. Data link

Product → Process → Resource → Timestamp — complete digital twin

It is only through this holistic connection that a “digital fingerprint” of each individual product is created — the basis for true traceability.

How gboMES enables traceability

With the modular design gboMES system, gbo datacomp offers a proven solution to establish traceability in a structured and scalable way:

Machine data collection (MDA)

Automatically records quantities, machine states and process data in real time.

Process data collection (PDA)

Integrates sensors and measurement systems to document temperatures, pressures, or cycle times, for example.

Operational data collection (ODC)

Precisely allocate orders, employees, machines and time periods.

Tool & material tracking

Links material batches and tools with serial numbers and processes.

KPI dashboards & reports

Provide insight into product development at any time — order-based, series-based or batch-based.

In this way, every production unit becomes a traceable unit of information — automatically, securely and retrievable at any time.

Expert tips for implementation in SMEs

1. Start small, think big
Start with a pilot area — such as a critical manufacturing step or an important product.

2. Introduce serial & batch identification at an early stage
The earlier a product is clearly identified, the more seamlessly the rest can be documented.

3. Integrate systems
Rely on MES solutions that combine data from machines, ERP and quality systems — such as gBOmes.

4. Create transparency
Use dashboards and reports to make traceability visible and usable by everyone — from shop floor to management.

5. Think about quality and traceability together
Link traceability with inspection processes — this increases significance and strengthens your quality management.

conclusion

Traceability is not just an IT project, but a strategic lever: It creates trust, ensures quality and increases responsiveness in an increasingly complex production world.

With gboMES Do you have a solution at hand that not only shows complete traceability, but also makes it a real control tool for your production.

Would you like to learn more about how you can establish traceability in your production?
We are happy to provide you with practical, industry-proven and individual advice.

Get in touch now or discover gboMES

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