Manufacturing liquids, especially those that are used in homes and around people and pets, requires a laser focus on quality control. Quality and consistency are mission critical for both the safety of consumers and the reputation of your brand. A reputable contract manager should have rigorous quality control (QC) measures in place to ensure the highest quality from start to finish. With a constant focus on improvement, PCI is uncompromising about the quality of the products that you trust us to produce.
The Need for Strict QC in Liquids Manufacturing
In liquids manufacturing, the quality of the final product is affected by several variables ranging from the condition of raw materials, to the manufacturing process, to packaging and storage. Strict protocols and tests at each step of the way are required to ensure safe, effective, consistent products are delivered to customers. These protocols and tests are what make up a manufacturer’s quality control measures, which need to cover three broad areas: product quality, product consistency, and regulatory compliance.
Product quality is of the utmost importance in liquids manufacturing. Whether used in the household, industrial, and institutional (HI&I) cleaning, home and garden, or pet care industry, liquid products must undergo strict quality control procedures to ensure safety and consistency.
Any liquid used around humans or animals must meet strict safety standards to protect consumers from harm. This includes ensuring that the product is free from contaminants, which can include anything from dust and dirt to bacteria, yeast, and mold. Manufactured liquids are also subject to relevant regulatory requirements from the EPA, OSHA, and other government agencies that are designed to ensure products are safe and effective for end users.
Quality control is equally vital for ensuring the efficacy of liquids, especially those used for cleaning. This may involve controlling for pH, precise chemical makeup, viscosity, and more.
In addition to making sure products work well, maintaining consistency through defined quality standards is important for protecting your brand reputation. Customers expect products to maintain the same look, feel, quality, and consistency over time. This means that quality control procedures must include regular testing to ensure not just efficacy, but consistent quality.
PCI implements rigorous testing and checks throughout the manufacturing process to ensure liquid products meet the required specifications while being safe and effective for customers to use.
Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control
Delivering high quality results in liquids manufacturing requires a strong focus on both quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC). Typically, QA refers to an overarching program designed to protect quality throughout the manufacturing process, and QC involves testing and correcting quality issues in the final product. Both aspects of quality management are vital to delivering products that meet the required safety and quality standards.
While QC is important for identifying and correcting quality issues before a product hits the shelves, the goal of QA is to ensure that quality problems don’t occur in the first place. This requires a stringent testing process for new materials and components, a strict vetting process for new vendor approval, and well-documented processes at each step of the way.
At PCI, our QA and QC teams work in unison to analyze materials and procedures at each step of the manufacturing process to allow continuous improvement and a quality result every time.
The Basics of Quality Control in Liquids Manufacturing
Quality control in liquids manufacturing requires multiple measures that work together to deliver products that are safe, effective, and consistent. PCI’s production and control systems are based on ISO 9001:2015 standards. These defined processes and procedures control all inputs into manufacturing to maintain product quality, customer satisfaction, and consistency from formula to finished product. These include:
Material Review and Approval
High quality products start with high quality materials. PCI has a strict QA process for new materials and components, as well as a vigorous process for new vendor approval. This includes well-documented, formal procedures to process the receipt, approval, and storage of all incoming materials.
Raw Material and In-Process Testing
PCI has an on-site analytical laboratory with a wide range of testing capabilities and the latest instrumentation to follow disciplined standard operating procedures (SOPs). The physical and chemical properties of ingredients are tested by our hands-on chemists and product experts both prior to manufacturing and throughout the process to ensure the liquid product is being produced to the required specifications.
Records Management
It is important to keep accurate records of all quality control measures taken during the manufacturing process. This documentation can be used to track the performance of the manufacturing process and identify any potential issues or areas for improvement. At PCI, our teams manage processes and procedures to control all production documents and records.
Final Product Review
Before the final product is released for distribution, our QC procedures and product experts ensure that it meets the highest quality specifications and is safe and effective for use.
Contact PCI for Your Liquids Manufacturing Needs
PCI has taken years to develop and refine processes with the goal of safeguarding your product quality and efficacy. We have the experience and qualifications to handle unique ingredients, complex formulations, and new product launches. We bring that experience with us whether you’re a larger company scaling up new production or a brand-new start up introducing your brand and products to the market.
For more information about PCI and our state-of-the-art production facility in St. Louis, reach out to our team to discuss your product needs today.