Can The Standardization Of Cigarette Pack Production Be Achieved in Just Four Steps? Have You Learned It?

To better maintain the consistency of cigarette pack printing quality, operators need to carry out standardized operations according to operational procedures during production to avoid different personnel performing tasks based on personal preferences and habits. Achieving standardized operations requires having Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), product process technical standards, and appropriate product quality inspection methods. Based on practical work experience, the author uses a product produced by the company-the "Golden Leaf" Jinmantang cigarette pack-as an example to explain how to implement standardized operations during the production process.Developing Standard Operating ProceduresStandard Operating Procedure (SOP) refers to a standardized description of the steps and requirements for a particular event in a uniform format, used to guide and regulate daily work. In simple terms, an SOP refines and optimizes the key control points within a procedure. From a management perspective, an SOP can shorten the learning time for new employees when dealing with unfamiliar and complex tasks, and following the steps can help avoid mistakes and oversights.SOPs are developed through continual practical experience and represent an optimized operational procedure design under current conditions. They generally have the following functions: first, saving operational time; second, reducing resource waste; third, achieving production stability. Their forms and usage methods are simple, intuitive, and easy to understand, making them effective tools for personnel to quickly obtain operational guidance.When establishing a Standard Operating Procedure, the following elements must be considered: the first element is standards, the second element is process, and the third element is operability.01. StandardThe standards on which the procedure is based mainly include the behavior norms of operators, technical parameters of production and auxiliary equipment, product process technical standards and quality requirements, and other management requirements specified by the enterprise.02. ProcessThe process mainly includes the equipment preparation stage, auxiliary equipment installation and adjustment stage, equipment operation stage, and work completion stage. It focuses on key production elements such as "man, machine, material, method, environment, and measurement."03. OperabilityOperability mainly considers factors such as equipment characteristics, operator skill levels, production space environment, and the requirements of the product production process. The printing equipment used in our company for producing the "Golden Leaf" Jinmantang cigarette pack is a Bost ten-color gravure press with a sheet-cutting function.Developing Product Process Technical StandardsProduct process technical standards include product technical standards and production process standards. Product technical standards mainly refer to the standard information contained in the standard sample issued by the superior technical department, such as product dimensions and shapes, crease firmness, appearance color, printed and hot-stamped patterns and their positional relationships, which must be interpreted and reproducibly produced. Production process standards refer to the process standards established during production according to product characteristics, equipment performance, and required materials; the two types of standards must be developed in conjunction.Detailed interpretation of product technical standards is necessary. The size and relative position of printed and hot-stamped patterns, the dimensions of die-cutting and creasing, and their relative positions to the patterns must be precisely quantified. The types and specifications of base paper and aluminum foil, ink type and viscosity, printing color sequence, and the technical parameters of the equipment must all be clearly indicated in the production process standards to ensure product quality achieves a uniform outcome during production, meeting the quality standards of the end-user and packaging adaptability requirements. The technical standards of the "Golden Leaf" Jinmantang cigarette pack are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 'Golden Leaf' Jinmantang Cigarette Pack Technical Standards (Unit: cm)Use Appropriate Inspection MethodsThe inspection methods here mainly refer to the physical inspection methods used during production. By thoroughly interpreting the product process technical standards and converting these standards into usable tools, production process guide cards can be created for foil stamping, embossing, and die-cutting procedures, and posted on the production machines. The guide cards should include the technical parameters that need to be controlled during each production step, as well as the process quality standard parameters for self-inspection, especially specifying the distances between different patterns, the distance from the pattern to the die-cut edge, and the stiffness requirements for each crease line.At the same time, film plates that match the standard sample's pattern content are produced (as shown in Figure 2). These film plates are highly transparent and resistant to deformation. During inspection, the film plate is placed above the product so that the patterns on the film and the product can be compared. This makes it straightforward to see whether the size and relative positions of the patterns on the product are accurate and whether deviations meet quality requirements. Using this method for self-inspection during production is very convenient for machine operators and significantly improves inspection speed and effectiveness.

Figure 2 Detection of Film SheetConsolidation of Standardized Operation ResultsAfter a certain period of operation and inspection, the company has revised and improved areas that need enhancement in the standardized operation process. These have been compiled into the "SOP Standardized Operation Process Manual" and the "Process Technology Standards Manual" shown in Figure 3 to consolidate the results. The manuals are distributed to technical management personnel and machine operators, and these individuals are trained to understand and master the contents of the manuals. They then carry out operations in actual production according to the standard requirements, thereby ensuring consistency and standardization of product quality.

Figure 3 Standard Operating Manual