Glossary · Manufacturing systems
Batch management
Also known as: Batch tracking, Lot management
German: Chargenmanagement
In manufacturing and logistics, batch management is the identification and administration of material and products in batches or lots, so that their origin, properties, status and use can be traced and controlled.
- Manufacturing systems
In one sentence
Batch management identifies materials and products by batch or lot, so origin, status and use can be traced and controlled.
Example
The ERP system blocks raw material batch 24-0815 after a failed incoming inspection, so it can't be issued to production orders.
How it applies
- Engineering: Batch numbers are assigned at goods receipt and in production; systems such as ERP, MES and WMS carry them through every movement. Batch attributes include manufacturing and expiry dates, test results and status.
- Quality: Batch status (quarantine, released, blocked) controls whether material may be used. In pharma and food, batch management is a regulatory expectation and the basis for recalls.
- Operation: Operators confirm batch consumption by scanning; manual entries need controls to prevent mix-ups.
- Documentation: Document batch number formats, status transitions and who may release or block a batch. A State model of batch statuses works well as a figure in user documentation.
Batch management vs. batch control
Batch management tracks material identities. Batch control in ISA-88 refers to controlling batch processes, such as recipes executed in a reactor. The German term Charge covers the first meaning; don't mix the two in documentation.