When switching packaging suppliers, these are the three items most likely to be lost

The most common item lost when changing factories

When selecting a packaging supplier, the most common oversight is not the price, but three intangible factors: die templates, color samples, and process parameters.

Basis for Determination

Die patterns determine structural precision; re-engraving requires both cost and time, and new die patterns may not be entirely identical to the existing ones; color samples serve as the sole reference for color matching, so once they are lost, the color must be redefined; process parameters—such as hot-stamping temperature, UV energy, and paper gluing amount—constitute tacit knowledge that new facilities cannot readily master.

• Knife mold
• tinctorial pattern
• process parameters

Handover sequence

Before switching manufacturers, retrieve the following three items: the physical die or die-line documentation; the signed standard sample and limit sample; and the process parameter sheet from the previous manufacturer. If these cannot be obtained, allocate sufficient time and budget for revalidation.

Applicability: For new product categories and projects without existing historical assets; since there are no transfer issues, the project can be established directly as a new entity.

On-site settings and practices we have observed

When a brand changed manufacturers, the document handover was completed thoroughly; however, the first batch of mass production items all turned out incorrectly. Upon investigation, it was found that the new facility lacked the original die sets; after the dies were re-established, the fold-line position differed by 0.8 mm; there were no existing color samples, so the printing followed the CMYK values specified in the documents, resulting in a color that was one shade darker; and the original crease-line height was unknown, causing the folded sections to appear whitish.

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