QUALITY CONTROL: SCA
chain, or does it rely on third parties to look after certain areas? Although SCA takes full responsibility for the final delivered product as all FMCG companies should, we are reliant on our supplier partners for certain parts of the supply chain, for example, the supply of raw materials. Therefore, all suppliers must be pre-approved before commencing supply to SCA. During this approval process, we ensure that the quality control systems of the respective suppliers are robust enough to meet our needs and the needs of our customers.
Q
When looking at the finished product, what
aspects of quality are the company looking to control? We control all aspects of quality which impact on the final product. Specifications are made up of numerous attributes and variables, which can be up to 50, and range from pack tightness to the number of sheets on a roll.
Q
Within the production line, does the company
use human labour as well as machines for quality control? Or does the company feel it can rely on machines alone? Whilst there are various in-line machines used to control
quality, there are also a number of checks that can only be carried out by our production operatives. As they are well- trained in how to pick up faults, and are used to seeing our products every day, both as they go through the factory and leave the production plant, they know what the products should look like. Therefore, they are an integral tool in our quality control. I don’t think that any FMCG company, non-food or otherwise, should rely entiely on machines. There are just some things that rely on the human eye as well as human judgement.
Q
Does the company constantly look at
innovation within its quality control systems? Or are they quite happy with the systems they have in place? Our quality control systems have to continually evolve to meet the requirements of our customers. This can be driven by new legislation or customer/consumer feedback. We have a philosophy of continuous improvement and will change and adapt our quality systems where and whenever necessary to meet this challenge. All FMCG companies should constantly evolve in all areas of business. This won’t only help them maintain a positive brand image
Peter believes that the successful implementation of quality control on SCA’s products, which includes these Velvet Balm Tissues, is down to a combination of both machinery and human labour
in the face of the customer, but it will also help the business to stay competitive, which is integral, especially now.
Q
When putting together systems to control
quality, what are the most important aspects, especially in paper hygiene products? End user safety is obviously paramount for any consumer product, including paper. One example is the use of numerous sharp blades within the manufacturing process. It is imperative, therefore, that secure metal detection exists to prevent any possible product contamination. Also, the ‘sensitive’ nature of our products means that any contamination detection is paramount. As they say, the consumer is king!
Q
Does SCA look at such issues such as
sustainability when implementing quality control systems? Sustainability is an integral part of SCA’s operations and is considered in every decision we make. Our products, processes and resources are all part of the global lifecycle and it’s in our genes to make our impact as little as possible. Quality control is probably one of the hardest areas in which to implement sustainability, as we have to
make sure that the products are checked and checked again for cross-contamination and consistency. However, it is still something we take into account.
Q
What problems have arisen for SCA with
regards to quality control? Has a product recall taken place which has caused a quality control rethink? Fortunately we have never had to resort to a product recall. However one problem that arose through the customer feedback process was that it was occasionally difficult to start unravelling the roll. This led to the introduction of new technology to allow easy un- rolling.
Q
Finally, what advice would you give to an
up-and-coming paper hygiene product manufacturer when they were implementing their quality control systems? When you implement any quality control system, you should always begin by thinking about the end user. What quality expectations do they have of your product? The quality control system should then be robust enough to ensure your products are always safe and meet or exceed the customer requirements.
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