Serial numbers sit at the intersection of inventory control, work order execution, warranty tracking, traceability, and compliance. If your team cannot reliably issue the right serial at the right point in the build, it becomes harder to prove what shipped, what was used, and what needs to be supported later.

Cetec ERP supports multiple serial sequences so you can match your requirements, whether serials must be unique by product line, by business unit, or across your entire company. The steps below show how to configure a default serial format and set the “next number” for that sequence.

Configure a Default Serial Format

• 1) In Cetec ERP, open the Admin page. Go to the Config Settings tab and choose “Formats (Serials, etc.)” from the dropdown menu.
• 2) In Default Serial Format, enter SERIAL_NUM_1, then click Update.

Initialize the Sequence and Set the Next Serial

• 3) Open any work order and issue a serial (any number is fine). This triggers the related configuration entry to appear in the system.
• 4) Delete that serial.
• 5) Go back to Admin, then Config Settings. Select “Config Settings” from the dropdown menu and locate output_num_1.

You can maintain multiple incrementing serial sequences by using SERIAL_NUM_X. Each X represents a different output and a different sequence, which lets you separate serial numbering by business unit, by production line, or by product when that matches your traceability requirements.

6) In output_num_1, enter the most recent serial number you have issued (excluding the temporary serial you created in step 3), then click Set.

This tells Cetec ERP to start at the next number after the one you entered when it issues the next serial. For example, if you set the value to 17, the next serial issued from that sequence will start at 18.

How to Decide Which Serial Sequence to Use

Use a single shared sequence when your compliance or customer requirements demand serial uniqueness across the entire company. Use separate sequences (SERIAL_NUM_2, SERIAL_NUM_3, and so on) when different product families or business units need independent numbering to keep processes and reporting clean.

Key Takeaways

• Set a default serial format in Admin so work orders issue serials consistently.
• Create and delete a one-time serial to initialize the related output_num setting.
• Use output_num_X to control the next serial number issued for that sequence.
• Maintain multiple serial sequences when you need separation by product, line, or business unit.

Conclusion

Default serial configuration is a small setup task with large downstream impact. Once your serial format and next-number settings are in place, your team can issue serials consistently during production and maintain cleaner traceability for audits, warranty cases, and customer questions.