What must be used to identify and trace controlled materials?

• A. Work Authorization Form (WAFs)
• B. Barcodes
• C. Departure from specifications (DFS)
• D. Quality Assurance Tags

Answer: (D)

Identifying and tracing controlled materials is achieved with Quality Assurance Tags. These tags attach directly to each item and carry essential information such as the item's identity, lot or serial number, QA status, date of inspection, who inspected it, and its disposition. That data creates a verifiable history from receipt through storage, use, and ultimate disposition, enabling precise tracking and accountability. While barcodes can speed data capture, they don’t by themselves document QA status or provide the complete audit trail required for controlled materials. Work Authorization Forms concern authorizing work, not labeling and tracing materials, and Departures from Specifications record a deviation rather than serving as the labeling/tracking method.