Glossary
Traceability — definition
The ability to trace a finished part back to its melt, batch, tool and production date.
Traceability is a system, not a machine. It requires each ingot delivery to be recorded, each melt to be numbered, each production order to be linked to that melt, and the parts to be marked or packed so the link is not lost.
The value only shows when something goes wrong. If a fault is found in the field, traceability decides whether the customer recalls one batch or an entire year of production.
In defence, medical devices and load-bearing parts for mobility aids, traceability is often an absolute requirement. In those supplies it is as much the product as the part itself.