Batches & Lots

Track production batches and lot numbers for traceability and quality control.

Batch and lot tracking gives every production run a unique identifier so you can trace finished products back to the raw materials, production date, and conditions under which they were made. This is essential for quality control, regulatory compliance, expiry management, and efficient recalls.

For example, a yoghurt producer labels each morning’s production as a batch (e.g. “YOG-20260314-A”). If a customer reports a sour taste, the producer can look up that batch number, see which milk supplier lot was used, and check whether other containers from the same batch were affected — all without guesswork.

How batches work

A batch is created each time a work order produces output. The batch record captures:

• Batch Number — A unique identifier generated automatically or entered manually. This number links the finished product to its production history.
• Production Date — When the batch was produced.
• Expiry Date — When the batch expires, based on the product’s shelf life settings. A juice with a 5-day shelf life produced on Monday automatically expires on Saturday.
• Quantity — The number of units produced in this batch.
• Source Work Order — The work order that created this batch, providing a full link back to the recipe and materials used.
• Quality Status — Whether the batch passed, failed, or is pending quality inspection.

Creating a batch

1. 1

   Complete a work order

   Batches are typically created automatically when a work order is completed. The system generates a batch number and links it to the work order’s output.

2. 2

   Review batch details

   Navigate to Production → Batches to see all batches. Click on a batch to view its production date, expiry, linked work order, and quality status.

3. 3

   Update quality status

   After inspection, update the batch’s quality status to Passed or Failed. Failed batches can be flagged for rework or disposal.

Traceability

Batch tracking enables forward and backward traceability:

• Forward traceability — From raw materials to finished products. If your flour supplier notifies you of a contaminated lot, you can instantly see which batches of bread, chin chin, and meat pies used that flour.
• Backward traceability — From finished products to raw materials. A customer returns a skincare cream with an unusual colour — you look up the batch and trace it back to the exact shea butter lot, production date, and operator who mixed it.

Managing batches

• Filter and search — Find batches by number, product, date range, quality status, or expiry window.
• Batch history — View the complete timeline of a batch from production through quality checks, inventory movements, and sales.
• Recall support — If a quality issue is discovered, identify all affected batches and the customers or locations that received them. A multi-store grocery chain can see exactly which branches received units from a recalled batch.