What are the key quality control points in the production of high-demand cigarette labels? Come and learn by saving this guide!
Quality is the sole "passport" for products to enter the market and the most critical link in the implementation of a company's "brand strategy." For tobacco packaging enterprises, common materials include inner liner paper, trademark paper, sealant paper, tobacco packaging transfer film, and draw threads. As the tobacco packaging market continues to evolve, traditional materials are gradually being phased out, while those with anti-counterfeiting features and exquisite printing patterns have become the mainstream. This places higher demands on the product quality of tobacco packaging materials.
So, how can tobacco packaging enterprises produce high-quality products? Below, we will explain and analyze several key aspects that require strict control in tobacco packaging products.
Quality Control Process
1. R&D
Every new product must begin with research and development, which is a critical stage that impacts the subsequent quality of the product. The key to product development lies in verification, including raw material verification, process verification, and product verification, with raw material verification being the most crucial. Each trial production requires separate verification by steps, stages, and sequences. After forming a small sample, the sales and after-sales service departments must fully communicate with the client's production, technical, and quality management departments for repeated verification, ultimately confirming whether the raw materials can be put into use.
The rationalization and standardization of the R&D process are crucial. Any process that fails to meet requirements must be promptly revised and improved. It is essential to remember that all product development must undergo pilot testing, intermediate-scale testing, and batch testing. By tracking customer usage, a validation report is ultimately formed, and only after confirmation of compliance can mass production commence.
Moreover, the cultivation of the R&D team is also crucial. Companies can collaborate with various universities and research institutes to jointly conduct research and development, continuously introducing advanced information technologies. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of new product development but also effectively controls the quality of each product.
2. Purchased pipes
A strict supplier admission system should be established, with regular annual audits of suppliers. Procurement must adhere to the principle of selecting the best options, periodically reviewing supplier qualifications and conducting factory inspections when necessary. Verification should include modules such as the three-system certifications (quality, environment, occupational health), social responsibility, and information confidentiality. Particular emphasis should be placed on evaluating the supplier's quality system and sustainability development. After comprehensive assessment, long-term stable cooperation should be established with qualified suppliers. Any non-compliant suppliers will be excluded from the approved supplier list.
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.
A few thoughts
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.
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".