3 Reasons You Need Quality Control in Your FIBC Manufacturing

Any manufacturer using bulk bags is likely using bags that were made overseas. The vast majority of bulk bags are made overseas because of the cost benefits - and while the cost savings are great, there’s a level of quality control that needs to occur to ensure you are getting a product that is up to your standards.

Not all FIBC manufacturers approach quality control the same way. Manufacturers that are committed to providing quality flexible packaging don’t hire a third-party to oversee that process. The best FIBC manufacturers have employees in every plant they work with who are local, bilingual and communicate by phone with their out-of-country based team members. Your FIBC vendor should want to be involved in assuring you products are held to the highest quality standards.

3 Reasons Why FIBC Quality Control is Important

There’s a level of trust that must be earned between distributors and customers. Customers need help from their FIBC distributors because they don’t have the time or experience working with foreign plants. If distributors are serious about their manufacturers’ quality control, they can bridge the gap for customers and build trust that they are delivering a reliable product.

Another piece of this working relationship is dependability. Lead times for bulk bags are typically three to four months. If something goes wrong during the manufacturing process you’re looking at a delay pushing your order delivery to six months or longer. As a result, this can delay your plant’s production.

When you work with a bulk bag supplier for the first time, ask how they address the following items to assess their commitment to quality control and prevent production downtime.

#1 Contamination

Any item made in one country and shipped to another, especially FIBC products, needs to be contaminate-free. Over the years, we’ve heard horror stories in the industry about contaminates disrupting plant production.

There have been cases when FIBC bulk bags were shipped with large insects and trash inside. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s a possibility when they aren’t checked properly. Because these bags are often used in the food or pharmaceutical industry, cleanliness is a top priority. Customers with a hygienic process should be able to count on their bags being free of contaminants when they arrive at their facility.

#2 Bag Strength

FIBC bulk bags, simply, need to be strong enough to not break. The bags are supposed to be able to hold a lot of weight. There are two factors that need to be considered.

The first consideration for strength is safety. A flawed bag can lead to a workplace injury or death. Second, the bags need to last. They have to do what they’re designed to do, storing and transporting large quantities of product. If they fail while being filled, discharged or transported, that process is impacted and overall production can halt at your facility. We don’t have to tell you how down days at your facility can be costly.

#3 Accuracy

This might seem obvious but accuracy is another key component to quality control. It’s an important step to making sure customers are getting the right sized bag, the right type of bag, and with all the correct features and specifications. If a company needs and orders a Type C bulk bag, they should get a Type C bulk bag. This is important not only for your facility but for your clients’ facilities as well. What if you get a bag with the wrong discharge spout and you don’t know until the bag is filled and transported?

Bulk bags are a great resource for manufacturers. Keeping them clean and functional is the least a supplier can do. If you have any questions about bulk bag quality control or bulk bags in general, let us know.