Batch and Lot Tracking Software for Small Manufacturers
When you’re manufacturing, every batch is unique. Track it from raw ingredients through to the customer’s hands.
- Unique batch code per production run
- Supplier lot reference tracking
- Forward and backward traceability
- FIFO batch allocation on invoices
- Recall-ready reporting in minutes
- Batch barcode generation
When something goes wrong — a quality issue, a recall, a compliance audit — you need to know in seconds which batches are affected, which customers received them, and which supplier ingredients caused the issue. Batch and lot tracking is how you do this. For small manufacturers in Australia, this isn’t academic. A food recall, a cosmetic issue, or a chemical compliance audit can shut you down fast. You need a system that traces backward to the ingredient supplier and forward to every customer who received a batch. That’s not something you manage in a spreadsheet.
How Batch Tracking Works in BSimple
Each production run in BSimple creates a batch with a unique code. The system records what ingredients went in (and their supplier lot references), when it was made, what came out, and how much. When you produce a batch, you’re not just making product — you’re creating a permanent record. That batch gets a barcode. When you dispatch goods to a customer, you’re linking specific batches to that invoice. If something goes wrong six months later, you open that customer’s invoice, see which batch they received, and instantly know the supplier lots, production date, and what else was in that batch. Link to manufacturing inventory software.
Forward and Backward Traceability
This is where batch tracking gets powerful. Trace forward: a supplier issues a recall on a specific lot of raw materials. You search BSimple, find every batch that contained that lot, then find every customer invoice that included those batches. You’ve got your recall list in minutes. Trace backward: a customer calls with a complaint about a product. You pull their invoice, see the batch code, trace to production records, and instantly see the supplier lots, the recipe used, the production date, and any notes from production. Recall-ready in minutes, not days. You’ll sleep better. Link to food production software.
Batch Allocation to Invoices
When you’re fulfilling customer orders, BSimple defaults to FIFO (first-in, first-out) — oldest batches get picked first. This is crucial for products with use-by dates or shelf life. But sometimes you need to override: a batch is expiring soon, or a customer requested a specific batch. BSimple lets you manually select the batch for dispatch. The batch reference appears on the invoice for customer traceability. Your customer can trace their product back to a specific production run. That’s value you’re selling. Link to barcode inventory management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between batch tracking and lot tracking?
Batch tracking usually refers to groups of product created in a single production run (your batch). Lot tracking refers to supplier lots of raw materials (their batch). In practice, they’re intertwined — you need to track both. BSimple does both: supplier lot numbers come in with purchases, and they’re linked to your production batches.
Does BSimple support FIFO batch selection?
Yes. When fulfilling orders, BSimple defaults to FIFO (first-in, first-out) allocation. Oldest batches are picked first, which is essential for products with use-by dates. You can override FIFO for specific orders if you need to allocate a particular batch manually.
How does batch tracking help with product recalls?
In a recall scenario, you search for the affected ingredient or supplier lot. BSimple shows you every batch that contained it, then every customer invoice with those batches. You’ve got your recall list instantly — no guessing, no lost sleep.
Can I track supplier lot numbers through to customer invoices?
Absolutely. When ingredients arrive from suppliers, you record the supplier lot number. That lot is linked to your production batches. Those batches are linked to customer invoices. Full traceability from supplier lot through to the customer’s hands.