What are the key quality control points for demanding cigarette label production? Come collect and learn!
Quality is the only "passport" for products to enter the market, and it is also the most important link in the implementation of a company's "brand strategy". For tobacco packaging companies, commonly used tobacco packaging materials mainly include tobacco liner paper, trademark paper, seal paper, tobacco packaging transfer film, and pull wire. With the continuous development of the tobacco packaging market, traditional tobacco packaging materials have gradually been eliminated by the market, and packaging materials with anti-counterfeiting functions and exquisite printing patterns have gradually become the mainstream of the market. This places higher demands on the product quality of tobacco packaging materials.
So, how can tobacco packaging companies create high-quality products? Below, we will explain and analyze several key aspects that need to be controlled for tobacco packaging products.
Quality Control Process
1. Research and development
Every new product must start with research and development, which is a critical stage that affects the quality of subsequent products. The key to developing products is validation, including raw material validation, process validation, and product validation, among which the most important is raw material validation. Each sample needs to be verified separately according to the steps, stages, and sequence. After forming the sample, the sales and after-sales service department should fully communicate with the customer's production, technology, and quality management departments, repeatedly verify, and finally confirm whether the raw materials can be put into use.
The rationality and standardization of the R&D process are very important. Any process that does not meet the requirements must be modified and improved in a timely manner. It is important to remember that all product R&D must go through small-scale, medium scale, and batch tests, and ultimately form a verification report by tracking customer usage. After confirming that it is qualified, bulk supply can begin.
In addition, the cultivation of R&D teams is also crucial. Enterprises can collaborate with various universities and research institutes to jointly develop and continuously introduce advanced information technology. This can not only improve the efficiency of new product development but also effectively control the quality of each product.
2. Procurement management
Establish a strict admission system for suppliers and conduct regular audits of them every year. Procurement should adhere to the principle of prioritizing excellence, regularly review supplier qualifications, and conduct factory inspections when necessary. Verify the modules of supplier's three system certification (quality, environment, occupational health), social responsibility, and information confidentiality. Especially, it is necessary to evaluate the quality system and development sustainability of suppliers, and establish long-term stable cooperative relationships with them after comprehensive judgment. If there are any discrepancies, they will not be included in the list of qualified suppliers.
In addition, it is necessary to develop a scientific raw material inspection plan, develop a reasonable sampling plan based on the arrival of different types of raw materials, and each batch of incoming raw materials needs to have a "certificate of conformity", "quality assurance certificate", and "inspection report" provided by the supplier. Then, the incoming inspection quality department conducts sampling inspections according to different types of materials and corresponding regulations. When put into production, each process should also re-examine the quantitative and qualitative indicators of each raw material. Raw materials that do not meet the input standards will not be allowed to be stored.
In addition to the incoming inspection of raw materials, operators must also conduct self inspection during the production process to ensure that the input raw materials meet quality requirements. According to the raw material verification procedure, new materials or changes in raw materials must be verified step by step according to the procedure requirements, and raw materials cannot be replaced arbitrarily.
3. Control of production process
The production process requires the implementation of standardized operating procedures (SOP control), with complete operating procedures for each workshop and equipment, detailed and quantified values for each control point, and supervision and execution by each employee. A sound production system, professional production workshops, standardized training methods, and quantitative assessment mechanisms have established the foundation for standardized production.
Production environment control. Improper control of the production environment can directly affect the quality of the product. Therefore, the production workshop must ensure a stable production condition (dust-free and anti-static). There should be clear warning signs at the entrance of the production workshop. Personnel entering the workshop must first undergo anti-static treatment, and operators entering the workshop must wear anti-static labor protection equipment as required. The workshop temperature should be controlled between 20 ℃ and 25 ℃, and the humidity should be controlled between 50% and 60% to ensure a stable production environment.
Digital production. Digital production can also effectively control product quality. Data based production includes digitalization of production, digitalization of equipment, and digitalization of management. The product is digitally numbered from the raw materials entering the production site, giving it detailed digital information, including qualitative, quantitative, and information during the processing of the product. Simultaneously using MAS and ERP dual systems to record and transmit data, achieving comprehensive statistics and multi-dimensional analysis, in order to improve and strengthen product quality.
Product inspection. Equipped with a dedicated testing room, it can complete various tests on tobacco packaging materials. The inspection items for tobacco packaging materials mainly include moisture content, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tensile strength, brightness, color difference, appearance quality, etc. A sound product inspection system and process design can ensure the compliance assessment of various testing requirements.
Production management must strictly implement the "three inspections" system. The first article inspection must be carried out according to the process of self inspection, mutual inspection, and special inspection. Products that require first article inspection must first undergo "self inspection" by operators, then "mutual inspection" by team leaders, and finally "special inspection" by inspectors. Only after the special inspection personnel confirm that they are qualified can production continue. At the same time, in order to ensure the stability and accuracy of process data, dedicated inspectors should be appointed to conduct irregular inspections.
4.Factory Inspection
As the final inspection step before the product leaves the factory, factory inspection is crucial. All kinds of quality inspection equipment and inspection processes must ensure the inspection coverage before the product leaves the factory, and at the same time, there should be a reasonable sampling confirmation plan and inspection retention samples as the basis. The method and rules of sampling are crucial, and GB/T 2828.1-2012 inspection sampling is commonly used in the industry.
A few thoughts
1. System guarantee
To achieve healthy development, enterprises must have scientific management. The three major management systems of "quality, environment, and occupational health and safety" are the basic guarantees for the normal operation and development of all enterprises, and can effectively ensure product quality control throughout the entire process. The promotion of the integrated management system of informatization and industrialization can effectively control the entire production process and ensure product quality control through information management. In addition, the certification of intellectual property management system and information security management system can effectively ensure product quality and the good development of enterprises. In short, strengthening system management can lay a solid foundation for promoting the sustainable development of the company.
2. Innovative thinking
Innovation is the source of enterprise development. Only by simultaneously grasping innovation and quality can we maintain the bottom line of quality and improve prevention and control capabilities. Quality issues can be categorized into technical issues, process issues, and equipment issues. Therefore, in order to better control product quality, it is necessary to constantly innovate and improve existing processes. Only new products that adapt to social development can better serve customers.
With the continuous intensification of market competition and the increasing demands of consumers, the packaging industry is facing great challenges. In order for tobacco packaging enterprises to remain invincible in market competition, they must keep pace with the times, continuously strengthen quality control, improve product quality, conscientiously implement the seven principles of quality management, and analyze and solve quality problems from the aspects of "people, machines, materials, methods, and environment".