Tag Number

The allows tracking of inventory back to the exact batch it was manufactured through the usage of a tag number.

Lot Number

Lot number is a unique number allocated to one or more product during manufacture or assembly to enable traceability.

Industry examples include:

Cut Lot Number

In addition to tracking the lot number, further granularity is achieved to a cut lot level.

Industry example include:

Dye Lot Number

In the clothing industry, most yarns require a dye lot number to ensure that all the pieces are the same color.

Industry examples include:

Coffee Grind Level

To ensure the best flavor in a cup of coffee, coffee needs to be ground well so that the proper amount of soluble material is extracted from the bean.

Industry examples include:

Wood Grading

In the timber industry, wood is treated with chemicals that provide color, texture, strength, resistance.

Industry examples include:

Revision Number

Items that frequently undergo an engineering change are assigned with different revision numbers. The has the ability to record the revision numbers of such item.

Industry examples include:

The allows the definition of a set of additional identifiers for specific items that needs to be tracked in inventory using the Tag attribute. This enables a warehouse to decide what attributes of an item needs to be tracked in inventory and allows a warehouse to track inventory at a granular level. An example of user defined attributes applied to an item is described in the following table.

Table 1. User Defined Attributes Applied to an Item
    Additional Inventory Tracking Identifiers
Item ID Description Lot Number Batch Number Wood Grading Grind Level Cut Lot Number
M-239838 Men's Shoe          
P-29838 Picture Tube for 27" TV 4345688        
S018488 Motherboard for a Desktop PC 098675        
H-239848 Teak Wood     Kiln Dried   2314579
9238-39 Hazelnut Coffee Powder       Coarse  

The allows a warehouse to track additional attributes against these identifiers. For example, a warehouse may track inventory by lot number for certain items. Additional attributes such as manufacturing date, manufacturing plant number can also be tracked against the lot number.

The advantages include: