For decades, lot and batch numbers have been the standard for tracking composite materials. They work well for full sheets, rods, and tubes – but they fall short once that material is transformed. When a single sheet becomes dozens of machined components, leaders need more than origin data. They need visibility.
As quality expectations rise across aerospace, electrical, industrial, and high-performance markets, traceability is no longer a feature – it’s a requirement. That growing demand is what led Atlas Fibre to elevate our identification system during our AS9100 certification initiative. The result is the QC Number, a unified identifier designed to follow every piece of material in every form.
Why Traditional Lot and Batch Systems No Longer Suffice
Lot and batch numbers identify where a material came from. They do not identify how that material was processed, how it moved through a facility, or how it ultimately became a finished part.
In today’s environment, where customers expect tighter tolerances, stronger documentation, and absolute confidence in quality, those limitations create gaps. Leaders need systems that maintain traceability after the raw material leaves the rack.
The QC Number: A Single Identifier Built for Modern Manufacturing
The QC Number is assigned the moment material arrives at our facility and follows it through cutting, machining, inspection, and final shipment. It replaces fragmented identifiers with a single, continuous record.
This system gives customers and internal teams a clear line from:
Raw material → Cut pieces → Fabricated components → Final assemblies
Every transformation is captured. Every process is documented. Every part carries its complete history.
For customers, the result is a higher level of confidence – whether you’re reviewing a prototype or a complex production run. For auditors and sourcing teams, it means immediate clarity without digging through multiple documents.
A Quality Initiative Aligned with AS9100 Standards
The shift to the QC Number was not administrative. It was part of a broader effort to strengthen our quality system and meet the rigorous requirements of AS9100.
By applying a unified identifier to every piece of material, Atlas Fibre now provides:
- A cleaner, more reliable record of verification
- Greater consistency across orders and repeat builds
- Documentation that supports audits and reduces time spent tracing material history
The QC Number improves internal process control – but its real impact is external. It directly enhances the trust customers place in the materials they receive.
Setting a New Standard of Confidence
The QC Number represents a new standard for traceability – one that goes beyond what lot and batch numbers were ever designed to do. It gives customers complete visibility into the materials and components they rely on, from the first cut to the final part.
If you’d like to discuss how this level of traceability can support your next project or streamline your team’s documentation process, connect with the Atlas Fibre team.