Trace, trace steps, and trace routes
Using M3 Graphical Lot Tracker, you can track and trace M3 Business Engine supply chain data. The supply chain data consists of a series of related transactions. This example shows a sequence of transactions:
- The receipt of a purchased raw material lot into a specific warehouse
- The consumption of that same raw material lot in a production order
- The distribution of the finished product to a second warehouse
- The sale of the finished product to the customer
Trace
In M3 Graphical Lot Tracker, a trace shows all the related lots as trace objects, in addition to all the related actions that have been performed on them in the M3 Business Engine supply chain.
Trace step
A trace step is the smallest traceable unit that describes the steps involved in a trace. For example, if raw material is purchased and allocated to a warehouse, this operation is represented by the Purchase trace step. If raw material is processed to produce a product, this change of state is represented by the Production trace step.trace step
Eight trace steps exist in M3 Graphical Lot Tracker:
- Purchase
- Production (Manufacture)
- Distribution
- Reclassify
- Scrap
- Customer
- SubContract
- Blend
In the Trace Step diagram, trace steps are displayed as icons.
See Trace step – description and details. See Interfacing with M3 Business Engine.
Trace route
A trace route describes the movement between trace steps in a supply chain. For example, the movement of a raw material from the warehouse to production represents one trace route, that is, a movement between the Purchase trace step and the Production trace step. In the Trace Step diagram, trace routes are displayed as connectors between trace steps.
Example of a Trace Step diagram
This Trace Step diagram shows an example of a simple trace, with trace steps and trace routes:
