An apparatus (20) and method for abrasively 
processing an article(24) involves the use of an 
abrasive product (30) provided with a 
machine discernable pattern representative of information of varying types. The pattern is read while the 
abrasive product moves relative to the article, and is used to control the movement of the 
abrasive product (30) relative to the article (24). The pattern may include one or more of the 
machine discernable electrical characteristic, optical characteristic, topographic characteristic or 
magnetic characteristic. Reading the pattern may involve one or more of electrically, optically, mechanically or magnetically reading the 
machine discernable pattern provided on the abrasive product. The pattern may include one or more of indicia, protrusions, depressions, holes, voids, color or 
pigment variations, bar codes, 
magnetic transitions or periodic markings. The pattern may include one or more of indexing information, 
servo information, alignment information or abrasive 
product identification information. Closed-loop servocontrol of abrasive product movement may be effected using the 
servo / indexing pattern information. The abrasive product may constitute a movable pad and an abrasive 
slurry. The pad (30) may be moved in a controlled manner relative to the article (24) such that the pad (30) and the abrasive 
slurry abrasively contact the article (24). The pattern provided on the pad may be read subsequent to a cleaning operation. An 
information system may be used to store various types of data derived, in part, from use of the abrasive 
product pattern information. The stored data may be used for a variety of identification, tracking, accounting, inventory, handling, and statistical purposes.