{"id":8543,"date":"2021-08-28T10:32:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-28T14:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=8543"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:38:16","slug":"discrete-manufacturers-traceability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/discrete-manufacturers-traceability\/","title":{"rendered":"Discrete manufacturers: say goodbye to supply chain headaches and hello to traceability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDiscrete manufacturers: say goodbye to supply chain headaches and hello to traceability\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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A new report from IDC<\/a> says that 97% of discrete manufacturers will focus on visibility, with 60% concentrating their efforts on end-to-end traceability in their supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For discrete manufacturers\u2014from makers of automotive, industrial machinery, and electrical components to those supplying medical and transportation equipment\u2014supply chain challenges are increasing every year and becoming more of a daily concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global pressures like environmental changes, tensions, and the challenges presented by coronavirus have shown manufacturers all over the world that their supply chains require improvement and a lot more visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main supply chain-related challenges out there today include increasing competition, the need to innovate, and rising customer expectations regarding the detail and quality of the information available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take control of your entire business, from supply chain to financial with X3. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Incredibly customizable software for established manufacturers and distributors looking for greater efficiency, flexibility, and insight.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Visibility is key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An impressive 68% believe that a lack of supply chain visibility and flexibility will cause significant issues in the future if not addressed appropriately, and 50% say that supply chain visibility is a focus from a supply chain risk management perspective, compared to only 32% in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traceability is not just about ensuring you are compliant\u2014it is gradually becoming a way to differentiate yourself from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five takeaways from IDC’s End-to-End Traceability in Discrete Manufacturing<\/em><\/a> report, which you can keep in mind when coming up with supply chain strategies for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     Traceability\u2014your supply chain track and trace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As your business grows, your commercial pressures and expectations are likely to increase. This puts strain on the supply chain, and by using the information to manage quality, inefficiency, and the threat of recalls, traceability is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You often need to follow international standards for controlling quality and traceability, which impacts the sourcing of raw materials.  Traceability identifies all relevant data for the materials used in the production and distribution of finished products\u2014it is the tracking and tracing of your supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracking occurs when you can see how products progress from one sequence to the next and how they move through the manufacturing process through location data. Internally, you can see where products are, who has worked on them, and how long until they’re finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracing allows you to identify products through records and supply chain visibility, which lets you link products to their sources in the supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good traceability is only possible if you effectively record information from manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, and those systems covering different process steps are connected and integrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apply traceability to your entire supply chain internally when it focuses on tracking the receipt and intake of raw materials to manufacturing processes and externally as you distribute the finished goods to their final destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IDC’s research features 140 medium to large-sized organizations and shows that many discrete manufacturers have work to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n