Serial tracking is item-level traceability that records and follows individual units, components, or assemblies by a unique serial number. In manufacturing, it is used to identify where a specific item was built, inspected, moved, installed, reworked, shipped, or otherwise handled.
Serial tracking commonly appears in MES, ERP, quality, inventory, and maintenance systems. It may capture events such as material issue, operation completion, inspection results, nonconformance records, genealogy links, and shipment history. The serial number acts as the identifier that connects those records across systems and process steps.
Serial tracking is more granular than lot tracking. Lot tracking groups items produced or received together, while serial tracking distinguishes one unit from another within or across lots. It should not be treated as only a labeling activity; reliable serial tracking also depends on controlled data capture, scan or entry discipline, exception handling, and integration between shop-floor and business systems.