Certificate of Origin

One of the most recent advances in formula manufacturing compliance has been the advent of the Certificate of Origin. While this document has been around for years - starting in 2007 this document has taken on even more importance.

As United States companies increase their dependence on foreign suppliers the reliance on quality standards from remote locations also increases. Some countries will pay more attention to quality standards than others.

The Certificate of Origin provides at least a basic understanding the source of all components used to produce a product. Typically this report identifies the country and often the component in the formula. Data is captured by raw material components and the approved suppliers.

While this document does not speak directly to the quality of the product manufactured it does provide a basic understanding of the countries involved in the supply chain.

As more countries earn a reputation of lacking quality this document will be used by more companies in restricting approved suppliers.

As of the date of this entry very few applications actually address this compliance requirement. As time passes this document will become as standard as a Certificate of Analysis and should become a standard feature in most software.

If you are considering new formula managment and batch manufacturing software for your organization make sure it addresses this document. Automating this process will save you signifiant effort in the long run.