What Is The Lot Number On A Product?
A lot number is a unique code that manufacturers apply to items made in the same run using the same components, parts, or materials. Lot numbers also track items while they are produced and can be used to identify recalled items or defective products. Different companies have methods and approaches for allocating lot numbers to the products they sell. Moreover, lot numbers are often known by other names, such as batch numbers, code numbers, or lot codes. Lastly, they have the ability to aid in streamlining the inventory management process for various types of commodities.
Structure and Example Of A Lot Number
Although there is no set format for lot numbers, they commonly consist of two parts: a letter and a run of numbers. The first two numerals represent the year the product was manufactured. The following two indicate the day of the month when the product was created. The earliest expiring components are indicated by the next two digits. The final two digits stand for the year in which elements with the earliest expiration dates do so. Example: LOT # H-21300822 shows that the product was created on August 30, 2021, and that any of its constituent parts have an expiration date as early as August 2022. However, it could also include the product ID and the producer’s name.
Furthermore, lot numbers are manually entered and managed, such as in an Excel sheet. The majority of manufacturers use the lot number component of production software. Many of the items we use on a daily basis, including food, beverages, transportation, toiletries, and medications, have lot numbers. In general, the codes assist manufacturers in identifying information about their products, such as which materials were used to build them, where they came from when they were made, and — if they are perishable — when they will expire.