Regardless of the raw material supplier’s delivery specifications and inspection records, every batch of raw materials delivered is subject to an incoming goods inspection. The inspection criteria are optimized, to the greatest extent possible, for the ROWA Lack-specific properties of the raw material often differ from the raw material manufacturers’ inspection criteria, which are kept more general. Recurring fluctuations in characteristics which are within the specified range are communicated to production and can be taken into consideration when using the batch. The inspection values for every batch of raw materials delivered are stored in the long term in the LIMS database.

Every stored batch of raw materials is given an expiry date. Once this date has passed, the batch of raw materials is automatically set back to “not inspected” status – it therefore cannot be used in production. The batch of raw materials can only be released following complete re-inspection. This makes it impossible for outdated raw materials to be used in production. Direct integration of the LIMS system into the production planning and ERP system ensures that only raw materials which have been inspected and released can be used.

There is a similarly comprehensive inspection program for the finished products which are manufactured: A detailed and individual inspection plan is filed in the LIMS system for every product to be manufactured. Inspection criteria and tolerances are determined separately for each product and optimized as required as the pool of data increases. The respective batch can only be released if all inspection criteria are within the specified range. Full integration of the LIMS software into the ERP system makes it impossible for a batch of finished products which has not been released to be invoiced and therefore delivered.

In order to guarantee traceability in the event of any irregularities, a laboratory sample is archived for every batch inspected (raw materials and finished products). The current storage capacity is sufficient for a retention period of about two years, but in many cases the retention period is limited by the shelf life of the raw materials and finished products.

It is also worth noting that our production planning and ERP system ensures complete batch tracking – this means that the batches of raw materials used for production are documented in detail for every batch of finished products. Although ROWA Lack is already well-positioned in the field of raw material and finished product inspection with its current processes, that doesn’t mean that measures in this area are done and dusted: We are constantly working on further optimizing the processes in order to deliver the best possible quality. It is also worth noting that the processes outlined are, of course, only part of the measures taken to ensure consistently high and robust product quality. Processes are also continuously being optimized in production and in process technology.