Maintain heat numbers against jobs, materials, grades, suppliers, quantities and inspection references in a simple local tracking register.
A heat number is an identification reference associated with a particular melt or heat of metal. It provides a way to connect physical material with information supplied by the mill, such as material chemistry, mechanical properties and certification.
Heat numbers are commonly encountered in steel, stainless steel, aluminium, nickel alloys and other metallic materials where material identity and documentation need to remain connected through production.
A job-based heat number register provides a direct connection between a production order and the material assigned to that order. This can make it easier to determine which heat was allocated to a particular job.
A heat number and a lot number are not necessarily interchangeable. A heat number commonly relates to a melt or heat, while a lot number may represent a receiving, production or internal grouping.
Manufacturers may use both identifiers simultaneously. The meaning of each identifier should follow the applicable material specification, supplier documentation and internal quality procedures.
A heat number can remain associated with material as it moves through receiving, storage, cutting, forming, machining, heat treatment and final inspection.
When material is divided into smaller pieces or transferred between operations, the original heat identification should be preserved according to the applicable traceability procedure.
Heat-treatment records can be linked back to the material heat number. This provides a useful connection between the original material identity and treatment records such as furnace batches, cycles and post-treatment inspection.
Where multiple heats are processed together, the applicable production and quality system should define how each heat remains identifiable.
Recording the material certificate number alongside the heat number creates a simple reference between the material in the workshop and its supporting documentation.
For controlled production, the certificate should be verified against the applicable grade, dimensions, specification and job requirements rather than relying only on the recorded reference.
This tool is a simple tracking aid rather than a controlled quality-management system. Records are stored locally in the browser using localStorage.
They are not automatically synchronized between computers, backed up to a server or integrated with ERP, MES or QMS software.
What is a metal heat number?
It is an identification reference commonly associated with a particular melt or heat of metal.
Why track heat numbers against jobs?
It connects material identity with the production order using that material.
Are heat numbers and lot numbers the same?
No. They can serve different identification purposes depending on the material and quality system.
What should be recorded with a heat number?
Job number, grade, material, quantity, supplier, certificate, location and inspection references are useful fields.
Can I search saved heat records?
Yes. The register can search job numbers, heat numbers, grades, suppliers and material descriptions.
Where are records stored?
Records are stored locally in the browser using localStorage.