Why Traceability?

Companies are becoming increasingly aware of the benefit and need for tracing their product history. With this information, defective product can be easily identified and quickly quarantined reducing containment and sort time. It also allows for a batch of parts to be identified and recalled; reducing the amount of recalled parts can save in negative publicity and unnecessary repair costs.

Since early detection and possible prevention of defects is the desired outcome, many companies are striving to implement new error proofing, tracking and early warning systems into their manufacturing sites.

MEDA Limited has implemented many process controls, technology upgrades, and software that can help their clients achieve prevention of defects and keep containment low and in-house.

In the fall of 2000, the United States government had established the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act, a law established to protect motorists from future recalls due to defective products. This act states that each company in the automotive industry must submit documented reports of how quality and defects are being monitored and contained.

MEDA Limited can help get your manufacturing business on track with the requirements from the TREAD Act. We can discuss the necessary paperwork involved and help you implement the necessary systems into your processes to ensure satisfactory compliance with the law.

MEDA Limited has listed a few common questions that typically arise in the manufacturing industry. They are divided into specific areas of expertise. If you answer yes to any of the questions below and would like further information on how you can benefit, please click on the heading and you will be taken to our solutions to these problems.

Because of the TREAD Act, there needs to be a facilitated method of getting the necessary quality information to the government. This system must notify the necessary officials of an impending recall just days after the problem has been discovered so that word can be spread to the general public, thus giving them an early warning of the potential motor vehicle road safety hazards.

Many companies find that they need to either implement an entirely new system or upgrade an existing one. MEDA Limited can suggest the latest software tracking systems and detection methods. Our solutions will meet the needs of both the clients continued production schedule and the requirements stated by the TREAD Act. We can also liaise with your material or part suppliers to ensure that they give you early warning when their products are found to be deficient.

Product and batch lot labeling is an excellent way to tag and capture part quality and history. Many systems are available to read different types of labels. These systems can be configured to not only identify the parts but also to store the label information into a history bank. Some of the software can also link two part histories together, thus creating a tracking method. These parts are now traceable to each other. Date and time of production or assembly, if incorporated into the labeling structure can also be tracked and used as a part quarantine identifier resulting in an effective method of containment, containing only suspect parts.

Our team has vast knowledge on the types of labeling and software packages that can fit your application. our electrical engineers can program such software to ensure that the necessary quality information is captured and tracked. Let our liaison team work with your suppliers to maximize label output information. We can make part traceability an easy reality for your manufacturing site.

For a broad overview of our services and how we can implement them, please see our Services and Solutions page.