At minimum, connect the end-item serial to hardware drawing and revision, schematic, BOM, approved manufacturer and part number, lot and date codes where required, material and process records, manufacturing traveler, workmanship inspection, firmware or programmable image, calibration constants and acceptance results. The required depth depends on program risk and contract, but the link must be explicit rather than stored in unrelated certificates.
Record authorized supply source, certificates, screening or qualification data, storage and shelf-life status, ESD or moisture handling, deviations, waivers, nonconformance disposition and rework. For RF paths, retain cable, connector, filter, amplifier, converter and oscillator identity when substitutions can change loss, phase, spurs, noise, heat or EMC behavior.
Baseline the configuration used for qualification and each delivered unit. When a BOM, manufacturer, process, firmware, calibration or test method changes, issue an impact assessment that names affected requirements and verification. Traceability is useful only when it can answer which units are affected and which evidence remains valid.