The importance of parts traceability in the industry
The objective of this newsletter is to understand the challenges of product traceability in industrial environments.
Product traceability involves following a part and its components throughout its entire life cycle.
It requires the implementation of a system capable of collecting and managing information relating to the various stages of production and distribution.
But why is it so important to track products throughout their life cycle? What are the objectives of this approach?
Discover below more on product traceability! 👇
Why trace industrial products?
Data traceability is a key process for optimizing production in an industrial environment and ensuring accurate internal and external quality control throughout the product life cycle.
It provides valuable data such as the origin of parts product assembly information, parts quality checkpoints, and verification elements in the event of a malfunction.
In today's globalized world, industrial companies need to stay competitive by constantly improving their production processes.
This requires manufacturers to ensure just-in-time production, reduce manufacturing costs, optimize production processes, and gain flexibility with suppliers and partners.
All these constraints force companies to organize themselves to monitor what they produce and ensure its traceability.
Industrial traceability provides a certain fluidity in the production process and enables effective action to be taken in the event of a product problem.
But what are its specific objectives?
1. ⭐ Ensure part tracking
Thanks to a unique serial number, products marked at the end of production can be identified and tracked after leaving the factory.
Marking the parts makes it possible to:
The serial number must then be recorded in the customer's information system, along with the batch number and manufacturing date, to be able to recall all affected parts if necessary.
2. ⚙ Optimize production
Part marking and tracking solutions enable automatic checks to be carried out during production.
In particular, the ability to identify parts during a manufacturing process is used to check that the components presented during assembly are following the process.
Automatic control that limits human error, thus reducing production costs.
3. ❗ Reduce product recalls
By tracking your products, you can also implement a total quality system.
Thanks to marking, the part can then be linked to each machine it has passed through.
In the event of a problem, you will know exactly which batches of parts are defective. As a result, you can request the return of only the parts produced on a particular machine, without having to recall all products manufactured during the period concerned..
You can also optimize your production processes thanks to the information you receive on scrap identified during production. You can then trace the problem back to the machine responsible. This preventive action is much more effective than a costly recall.
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The stages of industrial traceability:
What is direct part marking (DPM)?
The traceability of products or parts making up a product is very important for many industrial companies today. They are therefore looking to the Direct Part Marking techniques available on the market.nbsp;
Direct Part Marking (DPM) covers the various techniques used to mark a permanent text (serial numbers, manufacturing dates) or machine-readable code, such as Data matrix code or bar code, directly on the surface of a part to ensure complete traceability throughout the components life cycle.nbsp;
Discover below the different marking technologies available from our Gravotech experts for product identification.
Direct part marking example:
Laser marking
Industrial laser engraver uses a laser beam to interact with the material to create a permanent marking. This chemical reaction can produce different effects depending on the surface condition, the material of the part, the type of laser used, and the marking parameters selected.
Compared to mechanical technologies (dot peen and scribing), laser marking is less deep.
There are several types of laser sources for marking different types of materials: Laser Fiber for metals, Laser Hybrid for metals and plastics, Laser Green for reflective and sensitive materials, and Laser CO2 for organic materials such as wood, rubber, paper, or glass.
Dot peen marking
Dot peen marking is achieved by a rapid succession of blows with a tungsten carbide stylus, which deforms the material into a precise concave circle, the repetition of which produces the final mark. The advantage of this solution is that there is no chipping or breakage. This technology can be used to mark text, symbols, logos, and especially Data matrix codes.
It benefits from low acquisition and integration costs, security provided by permanent, forgery-proof marking without product alteration and no need for safety protection or consumables.
This technology was invented by our experts at Gravotech (Technifor) almost 40 years ago and is now used worldwide! Some of our dot peen marking machines have been running continuously on production lines for decades…
Scribing marking
Scribing marking uses a carbide or diamond tip to create a continuous, clean, and aesthetic mark. The tip glides over and scratches the part, leaving a permanent, deep, and legible mark.
Scribing is a dedicated metal part marking solution: it can be used on a wide variety of metal parts such as aluminum, brass, and copper, as well as hard materials such as steel and stainless steel.
Scribing part marking systems also offer another important advantage: by remaining in constant contact with the parts, the marking process is much quieter than dot peen, which strikes the parts. Scribing is therefore recommended for materials that resonate, such as sheet metal and hollow parts.
After this type of marking, a part can be painted without the marking fading.
Depending on the customer’s configuration and needs, these technologies (laser, dot peen and scribing) can be integrated on production lines or in enclosures for use in the workshop with an operator.
To find out more about other available technologies, read our article: “All about direct part marking methods”!
If you would like to implement this type of traceability system in your factory or modernize your equipment, our experts are at your disposal. And if you would simply like to find out more, don't hesitate to consult the articles on our website.
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