APPLICATIONS
Reconstruct the manufacturing conditions of a batch.
Link process records and inspection results to a work order, product or batch where suitable identifiers are integrated into the application.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION HISTORY
Preserve the context required to reconstruct production history.
When work order, product, batch, machine and process records share consistent identifiers, KERN IoP enables users to review conditions recorded over a specified period and compare them with available quality results.
The detail available depends on the data actually captured. Part-level traceability requires a unique identifier that is retained across relevant operations and inspections. The system cannot automatically reconstruct information that was never recorded.
The level of detail depends on identifiers.
01
Equipment and period
Stable machine identification and timestamps make it possible to retrieve recorded measurements and operating states.
02
Work order or product
Where these details are integrated, data can be retrieved by product or production order.
03
Material and batch
Reliable records of material identity and changes are needed. Material or batch identity cannot be inferred from a power curve alone.
04
Quality
To link inspections with operations, identifiers, timestamps and the required level of detail must be agreed.
TECHNICAL TRACEABILITY
Traceability depends on preserving the right relationships.
Time, equipment, product, batch and recorded conditions must share consistent identifiers. If a variable or batch was not captured, the limitation should be stated instead of filling gaps with assumptions.
Questions you can investigate.
- Which conditions were recorded during this period?
- When did the product or material change?
- Which stoppages were reported during manufacturing?
- Which records relate to the inspected parts?
The project defines traceability granularity, data retention, reporting responsibilities and access rights. Not every installation identifies each individual part.
RELATED CONTENT
KERN platform
Data acquisition and operating records.
Quality
Links to inspection results.
Request a configuration for your plant.
Tell us which equipment you wish to monitor and what information you need.
Recycled material: recording processing conditions
Variation between recycled-material batches may affect injection-moulding behaviour. Documenting tests, process curves, adjustments and results helps maintain production traceability. Laura Flórez discusses these considerations in SPE (2025).
Read “Getting PCR Right in Injection Molding” in Plastics Engineering ↗ · Other publications by Laura Flórez →
MATERIALS AND PROCESSING
Traceability of recycled materials during processing
Recycled-resin batches, material properties and processing conditions must remain linked to investigate variations in quality and performance. Explore our guide to the records worth retaining.
Guide to recycled-material traceability → Research on plastics-processing SMEs →
TRACEABILITY · FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is needed to reconstruct production history?
Which data are needed for useful traceability?
At a minimum, consistent identification of machine, period, work order, product or batch is needed. Detail increases when process variables, events, quality and material data are integrated.
Is part-level traceability possible?
Yes, but each part must have a unique identity maintained across relevant operations and inspections. Without that identification, the system cannot automatically reconstruct data that were never recorded.
Are machine data sufficient on their own?
Not necessarily. Interpreting manufacturing history often requires relating machine signals to work order, product, batch, shift, material and quality results, depending on the application.
Can traceability help investigate nonconformities?
It enables recorded manufacturing conditions to be reconstructed and compared with other batches or operating conditions. This evidence supports investigation but does not establish causation on its own.
Engineering
PM Tec Engineering, through its Industry 4.0 division, KERN IoP.
Cota, Cundinamarca · Colombia.
© 2026 PM Tec Servicios de Ingeniería SAS · Website updated in 2026.
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