On the mark

Traceability can best be defined as the ability to describe and follow the life of an object both forward and backward — that is from its origin to its development, and vice versa.

Although the purpose differs for different applications, traceability offers great benefits in manufacturing — especially where critical systems are involved.

This is chiefly because it allows failed components to be tracked back through their entire lifecycle to see if any patterns emerge regarding their production or design which may have led to their failure. If a defective product has to be recalled, it is because it passed through the checks designed to have stopped it.

So to find the solution we have to go back to the cause of the problem. In addition, knowing what was done, and how, can be essential when responding to a customer order.

Traceability can lead to a greater knowledge of the company’s capabilities, making it possible to meet an order quicker and more cheaply. It can also be a starting point for the statistical methods of process control (SPC). And, most importantly, if customer protection is a cornerstone of our economy, traceability is an efficient method of sorting out any disputes by proving that working practices were followed to the letter.