How to run a mock recall that reveals real traceability gaps

Pick a realistic scenario

Select a supplier lot that was consumed across more than one production run. Write down the start time and assign one person to lead the exercise.

Trace forward

Identify every batch that consumed the source lot, every finished lot created from those batches, remaining inventory, and every customer shipment. Quantities should reconcile with what was received, consumed, held, wasted, and shipped.

Trace backward

Choose one affected finished lot and verify that the team can recover all source lots, suppliers, production dates, operators, and quality decisions behind it.

Score the exercise

Record total time, missing records, quantity discrepancies, unreachable customers, and decisions that depended on tribal knowledge. Turn each gap into an owner and due date.

A useful mock recall does not merely produce a report. It makes the next real response faster and more confident.