Traceability for Pharma, Agri, and Electronics: What You Need to Pass Audits
Traceability for pharma, agri, and electronics means recording batch (and often serial), expiry where applicable, and every movement so you can trace from receipt to customer and back. Auditors expect batch-level (and sometimes serial-level) reports and the ability to identify affected stock in a recall.
In this article
- What traceability means for inventory in regulated industries
- How to implement batch and serial traceability
- How to prepare for a traceability or recall audit
- Pass audits and protect customers
What does traceability mean for inventory in regulated industries?
Traceability means you can answer: "Where did this batch come from? Where did it go? Which batches are in stock? Which were sold to whom?" That requires recording batch (and serial when needed) at receipt and at every sale or transfer, and keeping an audit trail of who did what and when.
| Question | Your system must |
|---|---|
| Where did this batch come from? | Record batch (and supplier/source) at receipt; report by batch |
| Where did it go? | Record batch (and serial if required) at sale/issue; movements by batch |
| Which batches are in stock? | Report stock by batch (and expiry where applicable) |
| Which were sold to whom? | Sales/allocations by batch (and serial); customer link if you store it |
| Which units/batches are affected by a recall? | Filter by batch (or serial range); get stock + sales/allocations |
How do I implement batch and serial traceability?
At receipt, record batch and expiry (and serial for high-value or controlled items). At sale or issue, assign or confirm the batch (and serial). Your system stores this on every movement. Reports then show stock by batch, movements by batch, and recall impact.
How do I prepare for a traceability or recall audit?
Run batch-level (and serial-level) reports regularly so you know what you have and where it went. When a recall happens, you filter by batch and get current stock and sales. For more detail on reporting, see batch-level reporting for regulatory compliance.
Traceability isn't optional in pharma, agri, and electronics—it's how you pass audits and protect customers. Record batch (and serial where needed), use it in every move, and report.