Method and apparatus for defining manufactured items and storing data relating to the manufactured items

摘要

There is provided a method and apparatus for defining identified manufactured items and storing data for a batch of the manufactured items. The method comprises generating, at a code generator, a defined range of item identifiers for the batch, the range being defined by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier. At any point in the supply chain for the manufactured items, each manufactured item in the batch of manufactured items is identified by marking each manufactured item in the batch with an item identifier falling within the range. The number of item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of item identifiers in the range. The lower limit item identifier of the range, the upper limit item identifier of the range and an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item are stored in an electronic database.