The Core Genealogy Chain
Start at the part or serial number and work backward: the build and plate position, machine and software version, parameter set, build file revision, powder lot or blend, and the previous history of that powder. Forward from the build: stress relief record, cut-off, HIP and heat treat batch, machining, finishing, inspection, and shipment. Each link should be a retrievable record with a date and operator.
Customers and auditors ask to trace from a failed part back to a powder lot, or from a powder lot forward to every part, so both directions must work. Spreadsheets handle this poorly once volume grows.
- Part serial to build, plate position and machine
- Build to powder lot or blend and reuse count
- Build to parameter set and file revision
- Part to HIP, heat treat and finishing batches
Powder Records and Reuse Limits
Record the supplier lot certificate with chemistry and particle size, receiving checks, and any tests on reused powder, such as oxygen content for titanium. For each blend, track which lots and how much were combined, how many builds it has run and the sieving losses. Specifications such as ASTM F2924 for Ti-6Al-4V or F3055 for Inconel 718 and customer-specific requirements may limit reuse or require chemistry verification, so the system should show a lot's eligibility for a given order.
Quarantine and disposal records matter as well, since an unclear status on a drum of powder is an audit finding.
Witness Coupons and Test Records
Many customers require tensile, density or microstructure coupons built on the same plate and processed with the parts, with testing at an accredited lab. Link each coupon to the build and heat treatment batch, record test results against requirements, and block release of parts until coupons pass. Unrecorded or lost coupons mean you cannot certify the build.
Treat coupons as inventory items with their own tracking and routing so they follow the parts through HIP and heat treat, which are often outside processes.
Try it here, free
Bar Stock Yield and Material Cost per Part Calculator
Work out how many parts come from each bar after cutoff and end loss, how many bars to buy, and the true material cost per part.
Controlled Files and Export Restrictions
Build files, CAD models and machine logs for defense work can be ITAR-controlled technical data, and some commercial customers apply proprietary controls. Keep these in a system with access controls, revision history and audit logs, and restrict who can export them. Do not send controlled files to external cloud tools for convenience.
As a bureau, you remain responsible for how your tools handle customer data, so review any quoting or analysis tool for where files go before using it on controlled jobs.
Making the Records Audit Ready
Auditors under AS9100 or ISO 13485 look for process control evidence: calibrations, operator training, nonconformance handling, document control and records retention. For medical devices, regulations in 21 CFR Part 820 add quality system expectations, and customers may flow down validation requirements for the process. Run a mock trace quarterly: pick a shipped part and time how long it takes to assemble the full record.
If it takes more than an hour, find the weakest link, usually powder blends or outside processing certs, and fix the process before an audit finds it.
Frequently asked questions
What does a certificate of conformance for an AM part include?
Typically part number and revision, serial or lot, material and powder lot, machine and build identifiers, process specification, heat treatment and HIP references, test results, inspection summary and a signed statement of conformance to the purchase order. Exact content comes from the customer's order and applicable standards.
How do I trace blended reused powder?
Treat each blend as a new lot that records its input lots and quantities, and carry reuse count and test results on it. Each build then references the blend. Forward and backward trace through blends is what lets you identify all parts affected by a suspect lot.
Do witness coupons need to follow the parts through HIP?
If the customer requires coupons to represent the parts, yes. They should go through the same stress relief, HIP and heat treatment as the parts, with records linking them. The purchase order and specification define the number and type of coupons required.
Netray can help you query lot genealogy across your ERP and quality records privately, so a trace request is a question rather than a day of file hunting.