The prerequisite for this is that the goods can be clearly identified. This is achieved using a unique and individual serial number. Companies in the pharmaceutical industry have to obtain these for their prescription drugs from a higher-level organization that ensures that each number is only issued once worldwide. On the way along the supply chain track and trace system starting with packaging in production – the goods are always registered when they pass a certain station. The data for this must be saved and made available in a system to which all stakeholders along the supply chain have access – in addition to the manufacturers, also the wholesalers, intermediaries and retailers or companies that process the products or organize and carry out the transport.

How companies can benefit

For the chemical and cosmetics industry, there are so far no legal requirements that specify the allocation of serial numbers as explicitly, but also in these two industries there are numerous regulations that at least suggest that companies should always be able to trace the path of their products – in order to fulfill their obligation to provide evidence in case of doubt.

But track and trace is not only a central issue for the process industry because of the legal aspect. This approach can also be used to make logistics more efficient. Information about where a product is currently located helps to plan the subsequent processes precisely. If, for example, it is clear how long the truck with the loaded pallets will need to arrive at the warehouse, all employees and aids can be brought together at exactly the right time to enable efficient processing for all sub-areas.