Traceability

Our platform provides for transparent remote monitoring of beverages, milk, processed food etc, supplied from source, through the various processing stages, to actual shipment. Farmer's Hive Food Traceability module provides this solution.

Table of Contents

1.0 User accounts

1.1 User roles

Our platform currently has three user roles:

1. user: this has a view only scope in a project.
2. operator: this profile has ability to make changes, but limited to a single project.
3. admin: this has access and can make changes to multiple projects.

The designated administrator (admin) is expected to create user accounts for anyone designated by the company to sign off on an activity along the chain. This signing off is done by scanning a qr-code using a cell phone. 

1.2 Create account

The admin should navigate to User Management module as shown below

Click Create User button on the top right and complete the dialog box

Once completed, you should have this:

Then navigate using Project → Manage Projects → Browse → Users and click Add User at the top right to assign role (Operator) to the created user account. 

An example of a user assigned as an operator can be seen below

2.0 Create a shipping order

We start by creating a shipping order. A shipping order refers to the product to be monitored through out the supply chain. To do this first navigate to Food Traceability under Farmer's Hive module then click on Add Shipment on the top right.

Farmer's Hive → Food Traceability → Add Shipment

This pops a dialog window and the user is expected to provide details about the shipping order. If the actual shipping date is not yet known, you are expected to use the default date of DD-MM-YYYY

After you click Add, your screen should look like this:

3.0 QR Code

This is auto-generated once a shipping order has been created. This is unique to an order and is to be attached to the harvested raw-materials used to process the product to the end-product displayed on shelves in shops. Once an activity has been deemed completed, designated employees/agents (along the supply chain) are to scan this code using their phones to verify the activity at the location where the activity occurred.

4.0 Status of Shipping Order

In progress

 All the activities that occur between raw material sourcing, to loading on a shipping container. Here, you are to provide the keys (eg GS1) used in activities, create activities that represent actions taken on the monitored products/materials, add devices to monitor the temperature and humidity of certain materials if needed. 

Completed:

 Order has been cleared or arrived destination, and no longer being monitored.

5.0 Shipment Actions

5.1 Submit Keys

Provide all keys to be used through out the monitoring process. Provide the key information in the form provided when you click the Add Key button

5.2 Activities

An activity refers to all major steps taken along the supply chain. You can navigate to any activity using Activities → Add Activity → {Select activity from dropdown}

5.2.1 Harvesting 

This refers to procurement or receiving of raw materials (farm products, or semi-finished goods) used in processing the finished product. It is usually the first activity type.

5.2.1.1 Data collected

• client: farmer(s), cooperative/associations, 
• location: physical farm address
• farm produce harvested
• date of harvest
• quantity of harvested crops and batch number(s)
• supporting document(s)

5.2.2 Manufacturing

This entails converting the raw materials to finished product. After creating the activity, you will have to use the Add Input to provide the raw material(s) used and Add Output buttons for the manufactured product

And for the output...

5.2.2.1 Data collected

• client: factory owner, 
• location: physical address of client
• items used to make the designated product
• date of activity
• quantity of each item used and batch number(s)
• quantity of item produced and batch number(s)
• supporting document(s)

5.2.3 Packaging

This is a compulsory activity where labelling the manufactured product and classifying same into one or more batches is achieved.

5.2.3.1 Data collected

• client: packaging unit of factory 
• location: physical address of client
• date of activity
• quantity of each items packaged and batch number(s)
• supporting document(s)

5.2.4 Storage

This activity is used to indicate any of these two processes:

1. warehousing of products (in boxes)
2. placing products on pallets for transport

5.2.4.1 Data collected

• client: warehouse owner
• location: physical warehouse address
• date of activity
• pallet(s)
• quantity of each packaged items on a pallet and batch number(s)
• supporting document(s)

5.2.5 Transport

This activity refers to all logistics and shipping steps taken in moving any monitored item(s)

5.2.5.1 Data collected

• client: logistics company
• location: loading area of warehouse
• date of activity
• pallet(s)
• the asset used to transport the products/items. (eg trucks)
• supporting document(s)

5.2.6 Retail

Receiving the finished product at distribution center(s).

5.2.6.1 Data collected

• client: retailer
• location: physical address of distribution/retail center
• date of activity
• pallet(s)
• quantity of each packaged items on a pallet
• supporting document(s)

5.2.7 Sales

Selling of labelled product. This is usually the last activity type

5.2.7.1 Data collected

• client: sales point of designated product
• location: physical address of client
• date of activity
• designated product
• quantity of each packaged items on a pallet
• supporting document(s)

5.2.8 Activity Actions

5.2.8.1 Add Attributes

Use this button to add to add extra information about an activity. An example is shown below for harvesting activity

5.2.8.2 Document

This is used to download supporting document(s) for an activity

5.2.8.3 Remove

This is used to delete an activity. 

5.3 Add Device

Add device to monitor temperature and humidity of an item. Usually in shipping containers. 

5.4 Insights

Displays a dashboard showing overview of activities, attributes, temperature and humidity measurements

5.4 Edit

This is used to make changes to the shipment information. In order to change the status to Completed, 

1. provide the actual shipping date.
2. make sure all keys have been used in at least one activity.

5.5 Inventory

This shows if there are any outstanding item still in stock; that is it has not been moved to any sales activity. This is available when the status is completed.

5.6 Report

When the shipment is completed, a default report is auto generated. Users (admin, operator) can view the full report. Only activities that have been verified and checked for customers, as well as attributes, can be viewed by the consumers when they scan the qr-code. Also, certain activity information such as pallet, batch number etc are not displayed to the consumer.

6.0 Technical Information

Our traceability solution is based on certain assumptions and models. In addition to those already mention in sections above, here are some technical information about this solution: 

1. The cumulative model for traceability data sharing is used for our solution
2. Transport activity refers to both the local logistics and shipping of product to be traced. 
3. Product being monitored are move along the chain (up to retail/distribution point) at the same time. 
4. All activities, excluding the last/current activity, can not be edited or deleted.