Glossary

Traceability evidence

Traceability evidence is recorded information that supports the history, status, and linkage of a product, part, material, or process.

Buyer Proof and Enablement Audit and Compliance Readiness (AS9100, LPAs and Process Audits)MES, ERP, PLM and Data Integration

Traceability evidence is recorded information that supports the history, status, and linkage of a product, part, material, or process. In manufacturing, it is the documented basis used to show what was made, what inputs were used, which steps were performed, who performed or approved them, and what results were recorded.

Traceability evidence commonly appears in MES, ERP, QMS, PLM, inspection, and supplier quality workflows. Examples include lot and serial records, material certificates, electronic travelers, inspection results, equipment or tool records, operator signoffs, timestamps, nonconformance dispositions, and shipment or release records.

The term should not be confused with traceability itself. Traceability is the ability to follow relationships across products, materials, processes, and records. Traceability evidence is the specific information that supports those relationships. It is also narrower than an audit trail, which usually records system actions or record changes over time.

Traceability evidence does not, by itself, prove compliance or product acceptability. It provides documented support that can be reviewed in quality, investigation, customer, or audit contexts.

Yes. AI can be used to support aerospace inspection planning, but it does not remove requirements for approved inspection criteria, traceability, change control, validation, customer flow-downs, or human accountability. Constraints depend on the part, program, quality system, data controls, and how the AI output is used.

Do MRO organizations always need AS9100, or is AS9110 more suitable?

MRO organizations do not always need AS9100. AS9110 is specifically written for aerospace maintenance organizations and is often more suitable when you primarily perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul rather than design or new production. Customer, contractual, and authority requirements ultimately determine what is acceptable.

What MRO records are auditors most likely to request during a Part 145 inspection?

Auditors in a Part 145 inspection usually ask first for records that prove control of work, personnel, parts, tooling, and release decisions. The exact mix varies by authority, ratings, scope, and recent findings, but you should expect requests for work orders, maintenance release evidence, training and authorization records, calibration, traceability, and records showing how discrepancies and changes were controlled.

How detailed does our risk register need to be for certification?

There is no single "correct" level of detail for a risk register that guarantees certification. Auditors expect a risk register to be complete, traceable, and justified relative to your processes, regulations, and quality system. Level of detail must be enough to show systematic identification, evaluation, control, and review of risks, without becoming unmaintainable or inconsistent across the plant.

Related Glossary

Role responsibility

Role responsibility is the set of tasks, decisions, and accountabilities assigned to a defined job or system role.