Lot and Batch Traceability Across Production

1. Overview & Business Value#

This comprehensive operational guide details the architecture, business workflows, configuration parameters, and execution steps for Lot and Batch Traceability Across Production within SmartERP.

Full upstream and downstream traceability from raw ingredient supplier lots to finished goods customer deliveries.

{screenshot:lot-and-batch-traceability-overview-dashboard}

2. Prerequisites & Security Access Groups#

• Required Modules: mrp, quality_control, smarterp_manufacturing_costing
• Security Groups:
  • Manufacturing User (Technical ID: mrp.group_mrp_user)
  • Manufacturing Administrator (Technical ID: mrp.group_mrp_manager)
  • Quality Inspector (Technical ID: quality.group_quality_user)
• Master Data Dependencies: Bills of Materials (BoM), routing operations, work centers with machine/labor hourly rates, raw material stock, and inspection checkpoints.

3. Step-by-Step Configuration & Execution#

Step 1: Navigating to the Module Interface#

1. Log into your SmartERP instance at https://smarterp.et/odoo.
2. Open the main App Switcher (grid icon in the top-left corner).
3. Select the Manufacturing app icon.
4. From the top navigation bar, open Manufacturing → Operations → Manufacturing Orders / Work Orders; Quality → Quality Control.

{screenshot:lot-and-batch-traceability-app-switcher-navigation}

Step 2: Creating and Parameterizing Records#

1. Click the New button in the top-left control panel.
2. Complete the mandatory fields in the record form:
   • Finished Product (Mandatory): Manufacturable item variant linked to an active Bill of Materials
   • Quantity to Produce (Mandatory): Target production batch volume in standard unit of measure
   • Bill of Materials (BoM) (Mandatory): Active engineering recipe defining component roll-ups and operation steps
   • Scheduled Date (Mandatory): Target production execution date and shift allocation
3. Configure optional operational parameters and localized tags as required:
   • Work Center Routing (Optional): Specific shop floor machine or assembly station sequence
   • Lot / Serial Number (Optional): Assigned traceability lot for finished goods batch tracking
   • Analytic Cost Account (Optional): Cost absorption center for direct labor and utility overhead
4. Click the Save icon in the control bar to commit the record.

{screenshot:lot-and-batch-traceability-record-creation-form}

Step 3: Validating and Processing Transactions#

• State Transitions: Execute operational state progression (Draft → Confirmed → In Production → Quality Gate Passed → Done → Cost Closed).
• Ledger & System Impact: Consumes raw materials from inventory (crediting stock valuation), absorbs labor/machine overhead, and debits finished goods inventory at actual cost.
• Audit Verification: Automated recording of author ID, timestamp, and immutable revision history.

{screenshot:lot-and-batch-traceability-transaction-processing-state}

Upstream and Downstream Traceability#

For pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and construction steel manufacturing, full traceability is a mandatory requirement of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) and the Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise (ECAE).

SmartERP provides bidirectional traceability:

• Downstream Traceability: Given a raw material supplier lot number, identify every finished goods batch, warehouse location, and customer invoice that consumed it.
• Upstream Traceability: Given a customer complaint on a finished goods serial number, trace back to the exact work order, machine operator, shift timestamp, and raw material supplier receipt.

Procedure: Running a Traceability Report#

1. Navigate to Inventory > Products > Lots/Serial Numbers.
2. Open the lot record (e.g., LOT/2026/HP-8812).
3. Click the Traceability smart button.
4. The system displays the complete visual pedigree tree:
   • Supplier PO receipt -> Model 19 GRN -> Raw Material Bin -> MO Component Consumption -> Work Center Welding -> Finished Goods GRN -> Customer Delivery Note.

4. Advanced Configuration Points#

• Automated Actions & Scheduled Tasks (Crons):
  • MRP: Recalculate BoM standard costs (mrp.ir_cron_bom_cost_roll): Runs weekly to update standard costing from latest procurement purchase prices
  • Quality: Trigger periodic inspection alerts (quality.ir_cron_inspection_check): Runs daily to flag mandatory quality testing queues
  • Workcenter: Update OEE statistics (mrp.ir_cron_workcenter_oee): Runs hourly to compute Overall Equipment Effectiveness metrics
• Custom Print Templates & Reports:
  • Production Order Traveler & Pick List
  • Shop Floor Work Order Execution Slip
  • Quality Inspection Certificate & Non-Conformance Report
  • Manufacturing Cost Analysis & Variance Ledger
• Multi-Company Rules: Record-level security isolation under Company 1 (Ashewa Technology Solutions S.C.), preventing cross-company ledger leakage across parent and subsidiary legal entities.

5. Comprehensive Troubleshooting Matrix#