Pharmaceutical Packaging & Serialization worked example

Recall Trace Depth with serialized units in the recall trace scope of 250 units: a worked example

Push serialized units in the recall trace scope up to 250 units and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when recall trace depth in pharmaceutical packaging and serialization is being quoted and you need a number you can defend on a phone call.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Serialized units in the recall trace scope: 250 units (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 100)
  • Per-unit investigation and trace cost: 2.5 $ / unit (unchanged)
  • Fixed recall event setup cost: 75 $ (unchanged)
  • QA labor and overhead adder: 25 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total recall trace depth cost = recall trace depth quantity × variable recall trace depth cost + fixed recall trace depth cost + labor and overhead adder) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 725 $ for total recall trace depth cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2.9 $ / piece for cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 625 $ for variable recall trace depth cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 100 $ for fixed recall trace depth adders.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where serialized units in the recall trace scope sits at 100 units and the headline result is 350 $, this scenario comes in 107% above the baseline at 725 $.
  • It computes the total cost to trace a defined quantity of serialized units through a recall, plus the resulting cost per unit traced. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total recall trace depth cost: 725 $ (headline result)
  • Cost per unit: 2.9 $ / piece
  • Variable recall trace depth cost: 625 $
  • Fixed recall trace depth adders: 100 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Recall Trace Depth calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.