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Episode 4: Traceability During Work-in-Process and Rework

Episode 4: Traceability During Work-in-Process and Rework

Traceability in Food Businesses

In the fourth episode of the Traceability in Food Businesses video series, we focus on traceability during processing and discuss the importance of using batch records. We also review the identification of both WIP and rework materials and how documenting the use of these materials is critical to a site’s traceability system.

Traceability scanner being used in a greenhouse on produce.

Documenting the use of materials in production can be accomplished by using batch records. Batch records are used to document traceability information for all of the materials used in producing a finished product. Batch records link the lot codes of the raw materials, ingredients, and packaging materials used to create a finished product, and should include the material name/item number, lot number, and quantity of the materials used, as well as the lot code of finished product created by the batch components.

The use of WIP or rework materials should also be included on batch records. WIP materials, or work-in-process/work-in-progress, refers to a partially finished good awaiting completion, and should be properly identified at all times. WIP identification should include the WIP material name, batching information, use-by date, and the actions needed to finish the material. Rework materials are materials or finished products that are unadulterated, have left the normal process flow, and require additional actions to successfully reprocess or incorporate the material into a finished product. When used, rework material information should include the batching information, production date, and the quantity of rework material used in the process.

In our next video in the Traceability series, we discuss tests of the traceability system and Recall Program.

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