CONVERTING MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES In order to improve and maintain graphic capabilities, plants are going to have to apply the following converting management principles:
- Improve housekeeping;
- Ensure all scales, gauges and dials on the machine are readable and not worn out;
- Maintain the timing and calibration of all machine components;
- Use zero registration techniques;
- Ensure that printing plates are being washed promptly while in the round on the machine after each use;
- Inspect plates so that repairs or replacements are made after each use;
- Watch for proper placement and use of pull bands;
- Check the amount of wear for feed rolls, pull collars and other machinery components;
- Use an Opti-Chek for pre-mounting and proofing printing plates, with the impression setting noted on the proof sent to the press crews;
- Ensure that all plates are preregistered;
- Check the run-outs (TIR) of all critical rolls;
- Use a standardized lead edge method of premounting printing plates.
If you want to be one of the leaders in producing quality graphics on corrugated, it is time to commit to excellence, which will require changing old habits and a commitment to quality, training, practice, and customer satisfaction.
Some box makers are avoiding upgrading their graphics capabilities hoping it will go away. They are concerned about pricing and cost and how to charge overhead and multiples of direct manufacturing costs. There is concern that graphics will bring greater machine downtime and production interruptions and require much greater time and involvement.
Many have found that higher quality graphics or new equipment will not necessarily bring increased profits. Instead it takes greater attention to details and sound management principles and good operating practices to ensure profitability.
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