Traceability in Aerospace, Defense, and Munitions Manufacturing, Where Every Detail Matters

For critical applications, being able to prove how a part was manufactured is just as important as manufacturing the part itself. 

That is certainly the case for defense and munitions manufacturing, where customers may require extensive documentation covering the machine and tooling used to produce the component, all the way down to the heat lot of the raw material. Aerospace applications also demand rigorous documentation and process control. 

At Liberty Precision, our team has continued to strengthen our traceability processes to meet these requirements. Today, traceability extends through our production technology and into the machines making the parts. 

Our Digital Thread Connects the Production Process 

Traceability at Liberty doesn’t stop with material certifications. Our technology systems create a digital thread that follows the work order through quoting, production, machining, and quality.

This process starts during quoting with Paperless Parts. This software allows us to designate requirements such as ITAR applicability from the beginning.

That information flows into ProShop, our ERP system, where production information is connected to individual work orders. From there, we can track information such as:

• Which material was assigned to a job

• The certifications associated with that material

• Which machine was assigned to the work order

• Which team member worked on the project 

• When the parts were produced

Our MachineMetrics system adds another layer of production data. Because it is connected to ProShop, we can go beyond looking at what machines produced a part, evaluating how our machines performed during the work order. 

Quality information provides another layer. Our team maintains inspection and quality records in High QA, organized by work order and according to customer requirements. 

Together, our digital thread gives us a connected record of production that extends far beyond the types of documentation our customers request. 

Our Strong Vendor Network Maintains Traceability 

Traceability extends beyond what happens in our facility, as well. 

Material Validation 

Raw material may need to meet specific sourcing requirements, including domestic material requirements. The material’s heat lot and associated certifications must remain connected to the work order throughout production. 

Liberty Precision maintains material certifications and certificates of conformance (COCs), helping establish a documented connection between the material received and the finished parts produced from it.

Outside Processes 

Many of the components we produce require outside processing, and Liberty Precision maintains a trusted vendor network capable of supporting the documentation and quality requirements associated with aerospace, defense, and munitions work.

When a component goes out for anodizing, plating, heat treating, or another service, we need the appropriate documentation to accompany it. That helps preserve the chain of documentation from raw material through machining and finishing. 

Traceability Adds Confidence in Critical Manufacturing Environments

For aerospace, defense, and munitions customers, traceability demonstrates that a complex manufacturer has the systems and discipline necessary to control critical production.

At Liberty Precision, we’ve built traceability into our internal infrastructure and expectations for our external partners. Additionally, our security and workforce controls support that same approach. We require team members to be U.S. citizens or green card holders, and we conduct background checks as part of our controls for this type of work. 

For our customers in critical industries, having access to accurate, thorough information is paramount. That’s why we make it our mission to maintain those records throughout the manufacturing process so our customers have confidence in the parts they receive, and we have the data necessary to keep making them better.

Do you have a specific project in mind that requires traceable documentation? Request a quote from Liberty Precision!