Weight Control (eMarking)
Harford Weight Control Solutions combine the advantages of Average Quantity Law with Statistical Process Control and Process Capability, ensuring that optimal control can be achieved – even in processes with high levels of variation.
Weight control solutions
While Average Quantity Law protects the consumer from purchasing underfilled product, it mainly benefits you as a manufacturer by accepting the imperfect nature of production processes and thereby helps to reduce overfill and wastage.
Harford weight control solutions combine the benefits of Average Quantity Law with Statistical Process Control and Process Capability, ensuring that optimum control can be achieved even where high levels of variation exist in the process.
Optimise fill operations, reduce costs & improving product quality
Harford weight control solutions provide accurate and reliable weight verification, ensuring legal compliance and minimising product giveaway. They optimise fill operations, reducing transformation costs, improving product quality, and enhancing customer satisfaction. With features like eMarking, SPC, machine learning, cobots, wastage minimisation and automatic adjustment advice, these solutions contribute to improved process control in manufacturing.
A unique solution for weight control
In contrast to our competitors, we adopted a unique and sustained approach by integrating the advantages of Average Quantity Control, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and Process Capability (Cp / Cpk). This combination enables us to achieve optimal control, even in situations where there are high levels of variation in the packing/bottling process.
Fewer process adjustments
When implemented correctly, Average Quantity Law is one of the few pieces of legislation that offers huge potential opportunities to reduce costs. Taking away the control of the process from the operator, and relying on a computer system is a big step, but a very important one to achieve minimal giveaway.
Many sites using the Harford solution boast of overfill/giveaway levels as low as 0.1% (1ml per litre/1g per kg) – which they achieve by doing fewer process adjustments!
Any legal non-conformances are instantly flagged up and require approval, and all results and actions are fully traceable, for audits and trend analyses.
SPC Vs Material Wastage
Wastage appears in many areas of production. Often, average quantity control is primarily used at the finished retail product stage to ensure legal compliance, but the actual savings potential lies much further upstream. This is where huge benefits can be achieved through the application of Statistical Process Control earlier in the process.
The Harford system provides simple and clear warnings and adjustment advice, to ensure the process is always in control. Data may come from a range of sources, e.g. in-line sensors, checkweighers, torquemeters, scales, etc. By taking away the subjective decision to act from the operator, and basing it on objective data and algorithms, drastic improvements in materials usage can be achieved.
Weight control solutions for a range of industries
Weight control is crucial across various industries, including FMCG, Food & Beverage, Health & Beauty, Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. Accurate weight measurement and compliance with average quantity law ensure product consistency, prevent underfilling, minimise overfilling and maintain consumer trust. By implementing Harford weight control solutions, manufacturers can uphold quality standards, eliminate risks, and meet regulatory requirements.
eMarking
Accurate and traceable weight verification for enhanced quality control
SPC
Real-time monitoring and analysis for consistent manufacturing quality
Machine Learning
Continuous improvement through data analysis and predictive insights
Average Quantity Law
Compliance with European standards for precise product quantities
Wastage Control/Volume Control
Minimisation of overfill/underfill, reducing product waste
Live Reporting and Analytics
Real-time data insights for proactive decision-making
Why Work with Harford Control
Our Weight/Volume Control programme was originally designed back in 1979, when European Average Quantity Law was first launched. It has constantly been developed and improved upon since then and still remains the market leader in terms of overfill reduction and legal compliance.
We took and sustained a different approach to all our competitors, in that we combined the benefits of Average Quantity Control with Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Process Capability (Cp / Cpk), ensuring that optimum control can be achieved even where high levels of variation exist in the packing/bottling process.
“Harford has supported us in reducing our bottling losses to less than 0.1%, and has taken our overall end to end liquid losses down by more than 50%. This alone has delivered sufficient savings back to the business to pay for Harford.”
— Plant Director, Loch Lomond Distillery
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Who we have helped
FAQs
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What is weight control in manufacturing?
Weight control in manufacturing refers to the process of monitoring and regulating the weight or quantity of products during production. It involves using precision measurement techniques, such as scales or sensors, to ensure that products meet specified weight criteria. Weight control is essential in industries where accurate product weights are critical for quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.
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What is eMarking in manufacturing?
eMarking, also known as electronic marking, is a digital labelling or coding method used in manufacturing to provide product information, traceability, and compliance data. It involves using electronic marking systems, such as barcode or RFID technology, to apply digital codes or labels to products or packaging. eMarking enhances efficiency, accuracy, and traceability in manufacturing processes and facilitates automated data capture.
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How does weight control benefit manufacturing companies?
Weight control benefits manufacturing companies in several ways. It ensures product quality by maintaining consistency and accuracy in product weights, reducing the risk of underweight or overweight products. This helps companies meet regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and industry standards. Effective weight control also minimizes material waste, optimizes resource utilization, and improves overall operational efficiency.
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What are the advantages of eMarking in manufacturing?
eMarking offers numerous advantages in manufacturing. It enables automated data capture, ensuring accurate and efficient product identification, tracking, and traceability throughout the supply chain. eMarking facilitates inventory management, reduces labelling errors, and enables faster and more reliable product identification during production, warehousing, and distribution processes. It also enhances product authenticity, anti-counterfeiting measures, and compliance with labelling regulations.
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How can weight control be implemented in manufacturing processes?
Weight control in manufacturing can be implemented through various methods, including using precision scales, sensors, or weighing systems at different stages of the production process. These systems can be integrated with automated machinery or production lines to enable real-time weight monitoring and feedback. Additionally, statistical process control techniques can be applied to identify and address weight variations, ensuring consistent product quality.
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+44 (0) 1225 764461Harford Control Ltd is a company registered in England with Company Number 1207483. VAT No. GB 140 2121 39.