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Chapter 16: C. Inspection Planning and Procedures 171
3. To permit recall of suspect product on a precise basis. Lacking
traceability programs, huge recalls of automobiles and other products
have been required in the past where the number of defectives in the
recalled set was often quite small.
4. To localize causes of failure and take remedial action at minimal
cost.
There are other uses of traceability, such as in inventory control and scheduling.
Some of these uses also affect quality. For example, use of materials on a first-in
first-out basis reduces the risk of quality deterioration of perishable materials.
Factors to Consider
• What is the cost of the product? A more expensive product requires
more accountability over time, and thus better traceability.
• How long will the product last? If it is going to be around a long time,
there is more concern about its origin, as new discoveries often are
made of chemical characteristics and environmental effects. The
discovery that asbestos was a carcinogen after its routine use for
decades is a good example.
• Will the product be built into another product?
• Does the product have items or materials in it that have not been
thoroughly evaluated over a long period of time?
• Is there a significant possible health hazard associated with the
product?
• Are field modifications often required, with different replacement
items required on different models? Automobiles are a prime
example.
Ten items to consider in a traceability program:
1. Product category
2. Product life
3. Unit cost
4. Recall or modification in the field
5. Product complexity
6. Level of downstream traceability
7. Documents providing traceability
8. Type of identification
9. Coded versus uncoded identification
10. Method of identification—tags, name plates, ink stamps,
other means
Part III.C.3