Traceability, Serialization & Lot Genealogy worked example

Serial Number Assignment Cost at 71% first-pass mark quality: a worked example

This worked example runs the serial number assignment cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 71% first-pass mark quality instead of the typical 99%. Estimates the cost of assigning, marking, and registering unique serial numbers across a production run plus one-time system setup.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Units serialized: 80,000 units (held at the documented default)
  • Mark and assignment cost each: 0.05 $/unit (held at the documented default)
  • First-pass mark quality: 71 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 99)
  • Serialization system setup cost: 5,000 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total serialization cost = units serialized x assignment cost each x first-pass quality% + system setup.
  • Total serial number assignment cost works out to 7,556 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Serial number assignment cost per unit works out to 0.09 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable serial number assignment cost works out to 2,556 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed serial number assignment cost adder works out to 5,000 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where first-pass mark quality sits at 99% and the headline result is 8,564 $, this scenario comes in 11.77% below the baseline at 7,556 $.
  • Use it when scoping a new serialization line, quoting a serialized product, or comparing print-and-apply versus direct laser marking economics. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total serial number assignment cost: 7,556 $ (headline result)
  • Serial number assignment cost per unit: 0.09 $ / piece
  • Variable serial number assignment cost: 2,556 $
  • Fixed serial number assignment cost adder: 5,000 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Serial Number Assignment Cost calculator, set first-pass mark quality to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.