Expiration and supplier-lot tracking without the spreadsheet chase
A practical way to connect supplier lots, expiration dates, production consumption, and remaining inventory.
Track the physical lot, not only the material
“Organic flour” is a material. Each delivery is a distinct lot with its own supplier code, received quantity, expiration date, documents, and status. Inventory decisions need to happen at that lot level.
Preserve four quantities
Record quantity received, quantity consumed, quantity adjusted or wasted, and quantity remaining. Every change should have a date, actor, and reason.
Connect consumption immediately
When production uses a material, record the exact lot and quantity against the batch. Delayed entry creates uncertainty about which stock was physically used.
Make exceptions visible
Expired, quarantined, and held lots should be prevented from ordinary consumption. Approaching expiration should appear in an action queue before it becomes waste.
This structure turns expiration management from a periodic spreadsheet cleanup into part of the production record itself.