Step 2: Decide what to trace
When deciding what to trace, understanding data standards is a good place to start.
Standards use a common language to help identify locations and products along the supply chain from farm to consumer.
Global standards, such as GS1, help businesses align information across industries. Unique identification numbers include a business location, product identification and transit information.
Products can be physically identified using a data carrier such as a barcode or QR code.
The Traceability quick start guide has more information about standards and sharing information between business systems.
Narrator:
Now it’s time to consider what you’d like to trace.
Think about how your products move along the supply chain. You may need to trace individual products or batches. As well as any significant production steps.
Make sure you consider who will need data about your products when deciding what to trace.
Your food quality auditor, retailer and customer will have different needs.
Continue to Step 3 or visit our website for more information.
What to consider when deciding what to trace
To help decide what to trace and how it will be identified, it’s important to consider:
- How your product is produced and then sold
- sold as an individual item, e.g. individual apples
- sold as a batch e.g. a punnet or a box of apples
- transformed into something else along the supply chain e.g. apples that are juiced
- The importance of identifying individual products within your business
- If there was a recall, would you be able to locate all products affected by the event?
- Who you need to share information with along the supply chain
-Talk to your supply chain partners to understand their needs and if they use GS1 or other standards and systems.
- How will information be shared, e.g. label scanning with a smart phone, or do they require more extensive system integration?