So what’s the best approach?
There are two basic options. Those companies starting more or less from scratch have the option of investing in an all-singing, all-dancing ERP system that includes factory-floor, batch-level traceability alongside its business management functions.These systems can handle stock control, but often not batch traceability or shelf-life.
Most companies will have substantial IT systems of one kind or another in place already. These might include ERP, manufacturing execution systems (MES), supervisory control and data acquisition systems or product specification databases, for example.
Companies in this position may choose to rethink all their systems, or they may opt to add a specialised system to handle traceability and quality assurance. “Big systems don’t do these things in the same sort of depth as specialised systems,” says Mumby. “Traceability is just one aspect– though an important one – of quality.
A specialised quality management system offers significant spin-off benefits such as reducing scrap product and giveaway and promoting right first time production.” Innovation Software’s Tracesoft package is used by both Weetabix and Greencore Groceries.