A system for tracking and managing baking pans or baking trays, comprising: (a) a set of baking pans or trays, wherein the set of baking pans or trays includes a plurality of individual baking pans or trays, wherein each individual baking pan or tray includes a unique identification tag positioned thereon, and wherein each unique identification tag includes information about the individual baking pan or tray on which the identification tag is positioned; and (b) a data acquisition system, wherein the data acquisition system includes: (i) at least one sensor mounted in proximity to a production line conveyor for detecting baking pans or trays positioned on the conveyor; (ii) at least one tag-reading device, wherein the at least one tag reading device is activated when the at least one sensor detects a pan or tray on the conveyor, and wherein the at least one tag reading device reads information from each identification tag and transmits the information to a controller; and (iii) a controller, wherein the controller includes hardware and software that controls the at least one sensor and the at least one tag reading device, and that receives, processes, and outputs the information read from the identification tags on the baking pans or trays (c) a server in communication with the data acquisition system, wherein the server includes hardware and software that receives, processes, and outputs the information received from the controller; (d) a database that contains information about each pan or tray in the set, wherein the information about each pan or tray contained in the database corresponds to the unique identification tag positioned on that pan or tray, and wherein the database resides on or is in communication with the server wherein the information about each pan or tray contained in the database includes bakery name and location; initial pan or tray in-use date; production line number; pan or tray type; total number of molds in a pan; mold dimensions; pan or tray dimensions; tag range; total number of pans in a set; projected baking cycles; and number of pans currently over or under projected baking cycles; and (e) an end-user terminal, wherein the end-user terminal includes an interactive user interface that displays reports about the baking pans and trays. (a) a set of baking pans or trays, wherein the set of baking pans or trays includes a plurality of individual baking pans or trays, wherein each individual baking pan or tray includes a unique identification tag positioned thereon, and wherein each unique identification tag includes information about the individual baking pan or tray on which the identification tag is positioned; and (b) a data acquisition system, wherein the data acquisition system includes: (i) at least one sensor mounted in proximity to a production line conveyor for detecting baking pans or trays positioned on the conveyor; (ii) at least one tag-reading device, wherein the at least one tag reading device is activated when the at least one sensor detects a pan or tray on the conveyor, and wherein the at least one tag reading device reads information from each identification tag and transmits the information to a controller; and (iii) a controller, wherein the controller includes hardware and software that controls the at least one sensor and the at least one tag reading device, and that receives, processes, and outputs the information read from the identification tags on the baking pans or trays (i) at least one sensor mounted in proximity to a production line conveyor for detecting baking pans or trays positioned on the conveyor; (ii) at least one tag-reading device, wherein the at least one tag reading device is activated when the at least one sensor detects a pan or tray on the conveyor, and wherein the at least one tag reading device reads information from each identification tag and transmits the information to a controller; and (iii) a controller, wherein the controller includes hardware and software that controls the at least one sensor and the at least one tag reading device, and that receives, processes, and outputs the information read from the identification tags on the baking pans or trays (c) a server in communication with the data acquisition system, wherein the server includes hardware and software that receives, processes, and outputs the information received from the controller; (d) a database that contains information about each pan or tray in the set, wherein the information about each pan or tray contained in the database corresponds to the unique identification tag positioned on that pan or tray, and wherein the database resides on or is in communication with the server wherein the information about each pan or tray contained in the database includes bakery name and location; initial pan or tray in-use date; production line number; pan or tray type; total number of molds in a pan; mold dimensions; pan or tray dimensions; tag range; total number of pans in a set; projected baking cycles; and number of pans currently over or under projected baking cycles; and (e) an end-user terminal, wherein the end-user terminal includes an interactive user interface that displays reports about the baking pans and trays.