Implementing traceability: practical challenges at a mineral water bottling plant

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this study is to examine where product, process and traceability information is systematically lost at a mineral water bottling plant. It aims to highlight areas where traceability could be improved and to suggest changes that could be made to improve traceability. It also aims to examine the implications of these changes for the current system. Design/methodology/approach -Process mapping was carried out at a mineral water bottling plant to investigate the flow of material and information. The results were analyzed to identify the critical traceability points (CTPs) in the production process where information is lost. Findings -One of the CTPs at the mineral water bottling plant was the lack of a link between product, process and traceability information for the screw caps.Research limitations/implications -This is a study of an individual case, which limits the generalizations that can be made. Practical implications -Procedures need to be established at the mineral water bottling plant in order to achieve traceability. All the information about the resources used in production could be linked to a "best before" date on each mineral water bottle. Originality/value -The authors have found few similar case studies in the published literature. This case study can be of value to other research institutes and industries where the focus is on traceability. It could also be of interest to researchers working with information technology systems, ontology/metadata schemes, cost/benefits analyses and the impacts of traceability. The implications of traceability highlighted in this paper can be of use to regulatory authorities in their decision making processes.

Validity of method for analysing critical traceability points

“…Relevant validity threats in the case study (Mentzer & Flint, 1997). recording any splitting or mixing of these units. The relationship between the traceability terms seems to be established and properly defined (Donnelly et al, 2009;Karlsen et al, 2010) to study CTPs within this case study. The threat against nomological validity is thus assumed to be low.…”

“…Such studies are important to improve the traceability of seafood. Several studies mapping Critical Traceability Points (CTPs) in food supply chains have been carried out since 2002 Donnelly et al, 2009;Karlsen et al, 2010;Olsen & Aschan, 2010). These studies give detailed data of specific links in supply chains.…”

“…Several studies mapping Critical Traceability Points (CTPs) in food supply chains have been carried out Donnelly, Karlsen, & Olsen, 2009;Karlsen, Donnelly, & Olsen, 2010;Olsen & Aschan, 2010). CTP are points at which information about a food item is systematically lost .…”

A supply chain of things: The EAGLET ontology for highly visible supply chains

“…This was done by evaluating EAGLET against case studies [65][66][67][68], reference models for traceability systems [47,56,69], regulatory guidelines [42], and standards and best practices [43]. Next, we provide a more indepth discussion of how we used the analysis of two real-world case studies for evaluating EAGLET's comprehensiveness.…”

Granularity and its importance for traceability in a farmed salmon supply chain

“…Karlsen et al (2010) and Global Solution One (GS1, 2007) described this in more detail and pointed out that the sizes of three different traceable units should be defined. These units are (i) batch, (ii) Trade Unit (TU), and (iii) Logistic Unit (LU).…”