Problems with User Numbering for Trace IDs

Legacy Contributor

All traceable items (numbering in the tens of thousands) in our system are set to user generated numbering, except for a handful of items we serialize. Our procedure has been for receiving dept to create the trace IDs at point of receipt, using the work order or purchase order numbers they're been received under. The problem is that we can't seem to get a handle on the amount of errors being made at this stage. For example, we make a batch of parts on WO-12345/1, and they are received under the user generated trace ID of W012345/1 or WO#12345/1 or WO54321/1...you get my point.

We've recently changed policy recently to have the trace IDs (for handful of serialized items) auto generated and pre-assigned. This we hope will solve the trace ID inconsistencies we seen on our serialized items, but I don't think this is the solution for the thousands of other parts we fab or pur in lots.

Any recommendations?

Legacy Contributor

Do your receiving personnel have a copy of the PO or WO? If so you could add a barcode for the PO or WO# and encourage them to scan that rather than type. Our users like that functionality since it saves them time typing.