A simple register
A basic register — a list that records each material received, its product code, its batch where stated, the date, and where its documentation is filed — is enough to keep procurement traceable. The value is in doing it consistently.
Linking to documentation
Each register entry ideally points to the associated documentation, such as a certificate of analysis or specification. That link means any material can be traced back to what is known about its batch.
Why it lasts
Because it is built on identifiers and dates rather than assumptions, a good register stays useful over time and across staff changes. It is the record-keeping counterpart to a supplier’s traceability.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the minimum useful record?
Material, code, batch where stated, date, and where the documentation is filed.
Why keep records at all?
So materials can be matched to their documentation and supply history at any later point.