Ask your CPG 3PL to demonstrate a lot-traceability drill

Define the identifiers before the exercise

Specify the SKU, batch or lot identifier, and relevant shipment references. Ask how those identifiers appear at receiving, storage, picking, and reporting. GS1’s traceability framework provides background for linking product identifiers and traceability events. Your test should examine the actual provider workflow, not assume that a barcode alone means the necessary relationships have been captured.

Work in both directions

Start with a selected receipt and ask where its units went. Then start with an outbound record and ask which lot supplied it. Include stock on hold and any approved adjustments. If lots can be mixed within a storage location, ask how the system maintains the distinction. Capture the query, output, and any manual steps required to assemble the result.

Use reconciliation to expose gaps

Illustrative drill: 500 units of a lot were received, 320 shipped, 160 remain available, and 20 are on hold. Ask the team to demonstrate the records behind all four numbers. An unexplained difference should remain open until investigated. Do not use a production drill to contact customers or initiate an actual recall; agree the scope and permissions before the exercise.

Assess readiness for your product requirements

Record how long the retrieval took, who could run it, and which records required assistance from another party. A successful drill supports a specific traceability capability at that time. It does not establish compliance with every rule applicable to your products. Have the responsible product and compliance specialists determine the controls, retention, and response procedures your business requires.