Pothera ERP · Traceability
Batch and Lot Traceability Software for Manufacturers
Pothera ERP tracks batches and lots from the moment material is received, through issue to production orders and job workers, inspection and finished goods, to the customer it is dispatched to. Any lot can be traced backward to its suppliers and forward to its customers, which is what audits, complaints and recalls depend on.
Who it is for: Pothera ERP traceability is built for Indian manufacturers with roughly ₹10–500 crore annual turnover whose customers or regulators ask them to trace lots from supplier to customer.
Built by Bsquare Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Noida · part of The Nambiar Group · 25 years in business · 1,000+ manufacturing and trading clients.
Batch & lot traceability in Pothera — at a glance
| Receipt | Batch and lot tracking at inward |
|---|---|
| Production | Lot traceability through production orders |
| Job work | Full material traceability at job workers |
| Quality | Inspection results against the lot |
| Shelf life | Expiry and shelf-life management |
| Dispatch | Lot recorded against customer delivery |
Bsquare’s take
“Traceability is tested on the worst day of the year — when a customer calls about a failure. The question is not whether you can find the answer, but whether you can find it before the customer’s next call.”
Backward and forward traceability
| Direction | Question | Records in Pothera ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Backward | What went into this finished lot? | Input lots, supplier lots, inward inspection, production order |
| Forward | Where did this supplier lot go? | Production orders, finished lots, dispatches, customers |
Free tool: traceability self-check
Answer eight checks for your plant today. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
| Check | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Every inward receipt records supplier lot or batch | |
| 2. Material is issued to production by lot | |
| 3. Each finished lot records the input lots used | |
| 4. Rejected lots are blocked from issue | |
| 5. Dispatch records lot and customer | |
| 6. You can trace a finished lot back to suppliers in minutes | |
| 7. You can list every customer for a supplier lot in minutes | |
| 8. You have run a mock recall in the last 12 months |
Questions to ask any vendor
- Backward: Show us the input lots for one finished lot.
- Forward: Show us every customer for one supplier lot.
- Job work: Is traceability kept when material goes to a job worker?
- Quality: Are inspection results linked to the lot?
- Speed: How long does a mock recall take in your system?
Where traceability matters most
- Medical devices — batch recall and device lifecycle. See ERP for medical devices and the traceability checklist.
- Pharmaceuticals — batch and lot tracking with expiry alerts. See ERP for pharma.
- Steel and fabrication — heat and lot numbers. See heat number tracking.
- Auto components and copper — part-level and lot-level traceability.
Frequently asked questions
What is batch and lot traceability?
It is the ability to follow a batch or lot of material backward to its suppliers and production steps, and forward to the customers who received it, using records kept at every stage.
What is the difference between a batch and a lot?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Usually a batch is a quantity produced in one production run, and a lot is a quantity received or handled together; both identify material that shares the same history.
Why do manufacturers need lot traceability?
To handle complaints and recalls quickly, satisfy customer and regulatory audits, and find the root cause of defects by linking them to suppliers, machines or shifts.
Does Pothera ERP support lot traceability?
Yes. Pothera ERP provides batch and lot tracking from receipt, lot traceability through production, and full material traceability for job work.
How do you run a mock recall?
Pick a supplier lot, list every finished lot that used it, then every customer who received those lots. Time it, and note every step that needed paper or phone calls.
Is serial number tracking supported?
Serial number tracking is part of the electronics edition. Ask in the demo for serial tracking in other industries.
Related
Quality management
Inspection at inward, WIP, SFG, FG and pre-dispatch. Free cost-of-quality calculator.
Inventory for manufacturing
Real-time, multi-store stock with ABC, ageing and shelf life. Free reorder calculator.
Shop floor & work orders
Production orders and analysis by machine, shift and operator. Free shift calculator.
Job work & subcontracting
Outsource and insource job work with full material reconciliation. Free variance check.
ERP for manufacturing
One system from enquiry to dispatch, built around production.
ERP for medical devices
Lot and serial traceability, DHR, NC and CAPA.
See it on your own data
Send us one sales order, its BOM and last month’s production report. We will run them through Pothera ERP in the demo.