What is ISO 21849 - Product identification and traceability about?
ISO 21849 is an international standard that focuses on aircraft and space. It gives the best guidance about product identification and traceability.
ISO 21849 specifies the requirements for a product identification and traceability schema for life cycle management of aircraft and space products.
ISO 21849 specifies the minimum essential identification information needed for the traceability of a product for its life cycle.
ISO 21849 provides the data structures for use with automatic identification technologies that support product life cycle data management activities.
Who is ISO 21849 - Product identification and traceability for?
ISO 21849 on Product identification and traceability is useful for:
- Defence sector and aerospace industries
- Manufacturers of aerospace equipment and components
- Manufacturer of electronic devices
- Testing authorities
- Regulatory authorities
- Quality control teams
Why should you use ISO 21849 - Product identification and traceability?
The accuracy of data collected and exchanged by trading partners can be improved by using automatic identification technologies instead of manual key entry. Automatic identification technologies include matrix symbology, linear bar code, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags
ISO 21849 establishes a repeatable process and data structure for product identification and traceability that supports the life cycle management of a product regardless of ownership and configuration changes. The use of the product identification and traceability guidelines described in ISO 21849 enables repeatable processes for error-free data entry, part tracking, dispatch, inventory, maintenance, import/export, detection of unapproved parts, and repairs.
ISO 21849 defines the product identification and traceability schema that enables directly benefits the users in macro processes of product data management, asset management, configuration management, maintenance management, and product performance management.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 21849:2022 supersedes BS ISO 21849:2006. BS ISO 21849:2022 includes some technical changes concerning BS ISO 21849:2006.
These include:
- In 5.2, A.8, B.8, and B.15, included an option for use of the enterprise identifier MFR as equal to CAG with a 5-character enterprise identifier assigned by the issuing agencies with issuing agency codes (IAC) VFS and KRU

