iLEAN Tracer · Industrial traceability with AI
Industrial traceability.
Where it came from. Where it went.
In seconds, not days.
Industrial traceability is the ability to know — at any moment — where every component of your product came from and where every batch leaving your plant has gone. iLEAN Tracer turns it into live information — integrated with your ERP, labeled with GS1 or DataMatrix, recorded with operator photo and signature — and brings it within one query's reach. 25 years with documented cases like Cepicafé and McDonald's.
End-to-end traceability.
Every link in the chain has its own way of producing — and demanding — traceability. iLEAN Tracer covers every critical point.
What is traceability
Concept, regulation, backward vs forward, upstream vs downstream.
See concept → PlatformTraceability software
iLEAN Tracer: ERP integration, modules, phased rollout, real cases.
See software → Live stockInventory control
Real-time inbound and outbound, stock by location, automated valuation.
See control → iLEAN WriterLabeling & printing
GS1, DataMatrix, QR, RFID. Connected industrial printers, batch templates.
See labeling → Technical detailFeatures
Capabilities, architecture, supported integrations, compliance.
See features → Sister productCarmen
Carmen management software — historical piece of the iLEAN ecosystem, still active.
See Carmen → Real caseCepicafé — coffee from origin
Coffee traceability from a Peruvian farm to the European container. Documented with GS1.
See case → Real caseMcDonald's — food chain
Integration with McDonald's food supply chain. Documented conference.
See case →Backward traceability. Forward traceability.
When we talk about industrial traceability, a good system answers two questions in seconds:
| Direction | Question it answers | When it kicks in |
|---|---|---|
| Backward (upstream) | Where did this component come from? | Quality investigation, return, audit |
| Forward (downstream) | Where did this batch go? | Product recall, customer-specific notification, health alert |
| Internal | What happened to this batch inside my plant? | Per-batch yield analysis, order costing, non-conformity |
The value of traceability isn't measured by what's recorded. It's measured by how fast you can respond when something goes wrong.
Regulatory compliance is not optional
Food traceability is regulated in the EU by Regulation 178/2002, in the US by FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), in Mexico by the corresponding NOMs, and certified under frameworks like IFS, BRC and ISO 22005. iLEAN Tracer covers the requirements of the main frameworks and retains history for the applicable legal period.
How it fits the IRIS system
Traceability doesn't live alone — it lives on iLEAN's unified architecture. The Edge layer reads labels and verifies with computer vision. The Integrations layer connects with your ERP, your scales and your printers. The Connect layer captures what isn't digitized yet (a delivery note by photo, an email from a supplier). And the IRIS agents — suppliers, quality — serve the exact context to whoever needs it.
What people ask before rolling out traceability
What is industrial traceability?
Industrial traceability is the ability to follow a product across its entire value chain — from raw material to end customer — recording who handled it, when, with which machine, and under what conditions. It has two directions: backward (where each component came from) and forward (where each batch went).
What's the difference between backward and forward traceability?
Backward (upstream) traceability answers: "Where did this component come from?" — it kicks in when there's a quality issue and you need to find the origin. Forward (downstream) traceability answers: "Where did this batch go?" — it kicks in for product recalls or specific customer notifications. A good system gives both in seconds, not days.
What is iLEAN Tracer?
iLEAN Tracer is iLEAN's industrial traceability system, with 25 years on the plant floor and documented cases like Cepicafé (coffee traceability from origin) and McDonald's (food supply chain). It integrates with ERP, scales, GS1 label printers and inline readers — unified under the IRIS system.
Do I need GS1 barcodes to roll out traceability?
GS1 (barcodes, GTIN, EPCIS) is the international standard for food and healthcare traceability, but it's not the only path. iLEAN supports GS1, DataMatrix, QR, RFID and freeform labeling — and can start with what you already have, migrating to GS1 if regulation requires it.
Does it comply with food traceability regulations?
iLEAN Tracer is designed to comply with EU food traceability regulations (Regulation 178/2002) and the main international frameworks (FSMA in the US, Mexican NOMs, IFS, BRC, ISO 22005). The system records each movement with timestamp and responsible operator, retaining history for the applicable legal period.
Tell us what you manufacture. We'll tell you what traceability you need.
25 years with documented cases — food, coffee, retail. We decide scope with you, then digitize it in phases.
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