Lot Tracking
Lot tracking gives every batch of finished goods a unique identity — a lot number — so you can trace it from production through to the customer order it was shipped in. This is essential for recalls, expiration management, and regulatory compliance.
What is a lot?
A lot (also called a batch number) is an identifier assigned to a group of units produced together in a single production run. Every unit in that lot shares the same production date, ingredients, and process. If a problem is found with one unit, you can identify all other units from the same lot and take action.
How lots are created
Iraca creates a lot automatically when you complete a production run. The lot is linked to:
- The production run that created it
- The product and quantity produced
- The recipe and ingredient lot numbers used (if ingredient lots are tracked)
- The date of production and the operator(s) who ran it
You can also create lots manually for inventory received from suppliers (e.g. a lot of raw ingredients with a supplier-assigned lot number).
Lot numbers
By default, Iraca generates lot numbers using the format LOT-YYYYMMDD-XXXX (date + sequence). You can override this during production run completion or when receiving inventory.
To use your own numbering format (e.g. 2025-A-001), simply type it in — Iraca accepts any alphanumeric lot number.
Viewing lots
Go to Production → Lots to see all lots across your products.
The lot list shows:
- Lot number and product name
- Quantity produced and quantity remaining (units consumed by orders are deducted)
- Production date and expiration date (if set)
- Status — Active, Quarantined, or Consumed
Click any lot to see its full detail page, including:
- The production run that created it
- Which orders it was fulfilled into
- CCP log entries (if FDA Acidified Compliance is active)
- Any deviations reported against this lot
Expiration dates
When completing a production run, you can set an expiration date for the lot. Iraca uses this to:
- Show an expiring soon warning on the lot list (within 30 days)
- Flag expired lots in the inventory view
- Block expired lots from being selected for new order fulfillment (configurable in Settings → Compliance)
Quarantine
If a lot has a quality issue — a failed pH reading, a customer complaint, or a suspected contamination — you can set its status to Quarantined.
Quarantined lots:
- Are hidden from the available inventory when fulfilling orders
- Show a warning badge on the lot detail page
- Remain in the system for traceability and audit purposes
To quarantine a lot: open the lot detail page and click Mark as Quarantined. Add a note explaining why. To release a quarantined lot, click Release from Quarantine and confirm.
Traceability
The lot detail page includes a Traceability section showing:
- Forward trace — which sales orders contained units from this lot (useful for recall notifications)
- Backward trace — which ingredient lots were used to produce this lot (useful for supplier quality issues)
You can export a full traceability report for a lot as a PDF from the lot detail page.
Lot tracking and compliance
If you have the FDA Acidified Foods Compliance add-on active, lots are linked to CCP (Critical Control Point) log entries and process deviations. The Inspection Packet report (under Compliance → Inspection Packet) uses lot data as its traceability index — every lot shipped in the reporting period is cross-referenced to the order it was fulfilled into.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to track lots for every product? No. Lot tracking is optional per product. Enable it in the product settings under Inventory → Products → [product] → Edit → Enable lot tracking. Products without lot tracking are fulfilled as undifferentiated stock.
What happens to a lot when all its units are shipped? The lot status automatically changes to Consumed when the remaining quantity reaches zero. Consumed lots remain in the system permanently for traceability.
Can I merge two lots? No — lots are immutable once created to preserve audit integrity. If you need to combine inventory, produce a new run and note the source lots in the production notes field.