Inspection certificate<\/strong><\/td>\n| Provides material information and inspection results<\/td>\n | Needs to be linked to the actual material<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n A number stamped directly on steel plate generally provides stronger traceability than paint markings or labels because it is applied directly to the material.<\/p>\n However, the stamped number does not by itself confirm the authenticity of the material<\/strong>. Traceability is established only when the identification number can be matched to the certificate and related records.<\/p>\nFor some thin products or products supplied in bundles, identification may be managed through batch numbers, bundle labels and delivery documentation rather than a stamped number on every plate.<\/p>\n In such cases, the documentation chain needs to be organized according to the product’s identification method.<\/p>\n 3. Four situations that can break the traceability chain<\/span><\/h2>\nA material batch may be fully controlled when it enters the warehouse but lose its source link during machining.<\/p>\n Four situations require particular attention:<\/p>\n \n\n\nSituation<\/strong><\/th>\nPotential risk<\/strong><\/th>\nControl measure<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\nCutting one plate into multiple components<\/strong><\/td>\n| Only one component retains the original identification number<\/td>\n | Transfer identification information before cutting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nGrinding, drilling, welding or machining at the location of the stamped number<\/strong><\/td>\n| The identification mark is removed or becomes unreadable<\/td>\n | Photograph and record the number before machining<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nReturning remnant material to storage<\/strong><\/td>\n| The remnant is no longer linked to the original plate<\/td>\n | Assign a temporary code and retain the linking record<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nMaterial passing through multiple intermediaries<\/strong><\/td>\n| Documentation and identification information may not be transferred completely<\/td>\n | Maintain traceability records at every handover<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n3.1. Cutting the plate before transferring identification information<\/span><\/h3>\nThis is a situation that can easily occur in the workshop.<\/p>\n A steel plate may have a stamped number at one specific location. Once the plate is cut into multiple components, only the section containing that number retains the original identification.<\/p>\n If the remaining sections are not marked separately, identifying the source of each component may depend on memory or incomplete workshop records.<\/p>\n For this reason, identification information needs to be transferred before the plate is cut<\/strong>.<\/p>\n3.2. Machining removes the identification number<\/span><\/h3>\nA stamped number may be removed by grinding, drilling, milling or other machining operations performed at the identification location.<\/p>\n Before work begins, the workshop should photograph and record the material code.<\/p>\n If the original identification cannot remain on the finished component, the linking code needs to be maintained in the fabrication records.<\/p>\n 3.3. Remnant material is returned to storage<\/span><\/h3>\nMaterial remaining after cutting may later be used for other orders or components.<\/p>\n If traceability information is not retained, the warehouse may only know the dimensions and material type stated on a temporary label without having enough data to identify the original batch.<\/p>\n Each remnant should therefore have a temporary identification code and a record linking it to the original plate.<\/p>\n 3.4. Documentation is not transferred completely<\/span><\/h3>\nWhen material passes through multiple intermediaries, the documentation can become separated from the physical material.<\/p>\n For example, the receiving party may receive only a delivery note and dimensional information without sufficient records to link the material to its inspection certificate.<\/p>\n In this situation, procurement needs to coordinate with the supplier to complete the documentation chain before the material source is confirmed.<\/p>\n 4. Procedure for transferring identification information when cutting steel plate<\/span><\/h2>\nTo maintain traceability after fabrication, identification transfer can be organized in four steps.<\/p>\n \n\n\nStep<\/strong><\/th>\nAction<\/strong><\/th>\nData to retain<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n1. Record the original plate<\/strong><\/td>\n| Photograph the complete plate and a clear image of the stamped number before cutting<\/td>\n | Plate image, stamped-number image, material code<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n2. Prepare the cutting plan<\/strong><\/td>\n| Define the position and code of each component to be cut<\/td>\n | Cutting plan linked to the original plate code<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n3. Mark each component<\/strong><\/td>\n| Assign a temporary identification number to each section after cutting<\/td>\n | Temporary code for each component<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n4. Maintain the linking table<\/strong><\/td>\n| Match the original stamped number with the temporary codes<\/td>\n | “Original stamped number \u2194 temporary number” table<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n4.1. Record data before cutting<\/span><\/h3>\nThe photographs need to show both the material plate and the original identification number.<\/p>\n A close-up image of the stamped number alone should not be used if it does not provide enough context to identify which plate the marking belongs to.<\/p>\n If several plates are processed at the same time, the images and records need to be organized so they cannot be confused between plates.<\/p>\n 4.2. Assign temporary codes according to the cutting plan<\/span><\/h3>\nEach component after cutting needs to receive a temporary code corresponding to the prepared cutting plan.<\/p>\n This allows the fabrication team to identify which plate each component came from even when the original stamped number is no longer present.<\/p>\n The temporary code needs to remain linked through subsequent operations until corresponding handover or installation records are available.<\/p>\n 4.3. Link the material code to the fabrication release records<\/span><\/h3>\nWhen the component is completed and handed over, the fabrication release records need to identify the material code used.<\/p>\n This enables reverse traceability from the finished component through:<\/p>\n Fabricated component \u2192 Temporary code \u2192 Original plate \u2192 Batch number \u2192 Inspection certificate.<\/strong><\/p>\nThis provides the basis for tracing material source when quality verification or post-installation failure assessment is required.<\/p>\n 5. Identifying signs of material with an unverified source<\/span><\/h2>\nDuring receiving, the warehouse and quality department may identify unusual signs related to packaging, identification markings or documentation.<\/p>\n However, one unusual sign alone is not sufficient to conclude that the material comes from an incorrect source or is counterfeit<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe following signs should only be used to identify cases requiring additional verification.<\/p>\n \n\n\nSign requiring attention<\/strong><\/th>\nWhat needs to be verified<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\nPackaging or bundling differs from previous batches<\/strong><\/td>\n| Check supplier information, batch number and delivery documentation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nPaint markings or primer appearance is unusual<\/strong><\/td>\n| Compare the identification method with information from the supplier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nSigns of grinding or covering appear where identification is normally located<\/strong><\/td>\n| Inspect the actual identification marking and related records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nCertificate lacks standard-version information or has an unusual format<\/strong><\/td>\n| Verify the certificate and issuing organization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n These signs may result from changes in packaging, preservation procedures or document format.<\/p>\n They should therefore not be used as standalone evidence that the material comes from an incorrect source.<\/p>\n If two or more unusual signs<\/strong> are identified, the warehouse and quality department should record and report them so that additional verification can be arranged.<\/p>\nThis threshold is an internal management warning level, not a technical-standard criterion for identifying counterfeit material.<\/p>\n 6. What to do when the material source cannot yet be verified<\/span><\/h2>\nIf the identification number does not match or several unusual signs are identified, the material batch should be withheld from use until verification is complete.<\/p>\n The process can be organized in four steps:<\/p>\n \n\n\nStep<\/strong><\/th>\nAction<\/strong><\/th>\nResponsible function<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n1. Segregate the material batch<\/strong><\/td>\nMark the status as “Under inspection”<\/strong> and prevent release or machining<\/td>\n| Warehouse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n2. Record the evidence<\/strong><\/td>\n| Photograph the complete batch, identification numbers, packaging and related documents<\/td>\n | Warehouse and quality department<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n3. Report on the same day<\/strong><\/td>\n| Notify procurement and technical teams so that verification can be coordinated<\/td>\n | Warehouse and quality department<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n4. Determine the next action<\/strong><\/td>\n| Review records, coordinate with the supplier and agree on a conclusion before use<\/td>\n | Procurement and technical teams in coordination with the quality department<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The important point is to maintain controlled status for the material batch throughout the verification process.<\/p>\n The material should not be released, returned or declared counterfeit without sufficient evidence.<\/p>\n If the source is fully verified, the batch can continue through the normal receiving and acceptance inspection process.<\/p>\n If the relationship between the material and the certificate still cannot be established, the batch should remain segregated until a handling decision is made according to the applicable agreement.<\/p>\n 7. Traceability for thin steel plate without stamped identification<\/span><\/h2>\nNot every steel product has a stamped identification number on each individual plate.<\/p>\n For some thin products or products supplied in bundles, identification may be managed through batch codes and bundle labels.<\/p>\n In this situation, three groups of evidence can be used:<\/p>\n \n\n\nEvidence<\/strong><\/th>\nRequired information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\nSupplier certificate<\/strong><\/td>\n| Batch number and corresponding material information<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nReceiving photographs<\/strong><\/td>\n| Complete bundle and bundle label at the time of receiving<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nWarehouse receiving record<\/strong><\/td>\n| Batch number and information linking it to the documentation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n These three groups of information need to be recorded at the same time during receiving.<\/p>\n If the bundle has already been opened, divided or moved into fabrication before photographs and records are prepared, traceability may be limited.<\/p>\n For materials without a stamped identification number on each plate, receiving records and batch codes therefore play a particularly important role in maintaining the traceability chain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n8. What should traceability records be able to answer after several years?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe value of traceability does not end at the time of receiving.<\/p>\n After a component has been installed and operated for several years, the plant may still need to determine what material was used, where it came from and the original basis for its selection.<\/p>\n A complete record should help answer five questions:<\/p>\n | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |