When we think of a lot number, do you think of land or do you think of a digital number? Well, Lots are very important when it comes to Inventory tracking and allowing your warranty items to always be tracked.

It is complicated but simple, it all depends on how you understand the big picture.

There are basically two types of items that are going to deal with lot numbers.

The first type is the inventory that does not need lot numbers. Think about your product whatever it is, if it is digital, or if it is Physical. The question you need to ask yourself is “DOES THIS EXPIRE? IS THERE A WARRANTY?”

If you answered no to both of them then you do not have to worry about lot numbers, as it will be an unnecessary task and will just complicate your WorkFlow.

If you say yes! Then there is some understanding to take place.

Lot numbers report:

• Description,
• What is in stock,
• Available,
• Expiration,
• Recalled and…
• Even documents.

The purpose is to use this information in batches or groups. Example:

Let’s say Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory produce their new Chococo Nutty Bar, and it was made on 9-23-2022 and it expires in 6 months. That means after delivery it is 9-29-2022, this would expire, on 03-23-23. There would be an alert in either email or text stating this is expiring in 1 day, you can set it up to alert you a month in advance. Really all up to your preference.

Could imagine trying to have records to keep track of this? That would be insane. Now you will have a recording of that batch that all of them with that same lot number will expire soon. This is pretty cool how this works.

Process:

First, you need to have a product, either add an item or use an existing item and make sure the lot tracking option is checked. When the product is received (that means you have more coming in stock) and you add your lot number (more on how to add the lot numbers down the road.) Or if you want to add a lot number to an existing item you will have to do an adjustment.

Let us get into a more serious note in regards of callbacks:

Callbacks are when there are issues with a certain product that they no longer can sell on the shelves. A perfectly good example of how serious this could be was when Ford had a contract with the ambulances and there was a failure in the sensor, with the Ford SuperDuty F-Series. Over 6472 were recalled. 

That means the batch with the lot number that had these issues with that certain sensor was 6472. If there were no lot numbers or batch numbers how would you track this? It would be impossible and you would need to recall all of the Trucks which can get very serious and end a company quickly.

Another example is if you take that chocolate Wonka Bar and they have a recall, on the backside you will have the expiration date and then you will have the lot number let’s say 1902900-2030. The 900 could be the bad batch and will ask anyone with this number to mail out or get rid of that and they will get a check in the mail.

Serial Number VS Lot Number

Serial means taking place in a series, and numbers is how many, if you think of it this way, it might help everyone to understand that it is just a series of items to make 1 thing, and if that 1 thing has an issue, you look up the Serial Number and all of the parts or items that make up the 1 thing will be in a series.

Here is an example:

2005 Fender Stratocaster, is the most expensive guitar in the world, selling for about 2.7 million dollars, ( I can’t even afford that in 72 monthly payments.) This is a documented product and if for some reason the serial number did not match this guitar, that means it’s a fake or a copycat. If there is a screw missing then you look up the serial number and it will tell you exactly which screw it is. That would be a serial number.

In short, a lot number is anything that expires or a warranty or a unique way of certain manufactured products that are created together.

A serial number is just a series of items that create 1 main product.

Lot numbers should stay in a sequence and you need to have it consistent:

10-10101-2322

The first two (10) will be the order sequence, that is the month it was produced
The 5 digits (10101) Will be the exact product for that day
The last four will be the year it was created
That is just an example, each company has its own reason for lot numbers and has its own order as well. 

But what is important is to make sure that it always means the same and try to make it as automated as possible.

If you are interested in learning more than just visit KRANESTUDIOS.COM

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