FIRST 4.0 “FIRST” 4.0 Paving the Way for Flexographic Excellence Joe Tuccitto FFTA FIRST 4.0 FIRST is the most important document the FFTA has ever produced Provides guidance and leadership to the industry Enables printers to be consistent with their production practices FIRST 4.0 FIRST 4.0 FIRST 4.0 The Mission of FIRST FIRST seeks to understand customers’ graphic requirements for reproduction and translate those aesthetic requirements into specifications for each phase of the flexographic printing process including: customers, designers, prepress providers, raw material & equipment suppliers, and printers The intention of FIRST is to provide all participants in the flexographic reproduction process with a common set of guidelines, tutorials, and data that can be used as communication and production tools FIRST 4.0 FIRST Objectives • To outline key flexographic procedures and guidelines to be used from the beginning of the process to the end, • including the implementation, design, prepress, and print processes • To improve quality and consistency through improved communication and measurement procedures • To reduce cycle time and minimize rework through improved process control methodology FIRST 4.0 FIRST Objectives • To control production costs through streamlined raw materials and process improvement methodology • To enable consumer product companies to obtain optimal flexographic print quality, which equals or exceeds • offset lithography and gravure printing • To grow the overall flexographic printing industry through increased market share of an expanding market FIRST 4.0 A Historical Perspective Prior to FIRST, many consumer product companies were creating individual package reproduction specifications The generation of too many individualized specifications can become overwhelming to an industry – resulting in manufacturing inefficiencies and confusion In pursuit of a more universal approach, the FTA membership partnered with leading consumer product companies to create a universal set of flexographic specifications FIRST 4.0 From Beginning to End FIRST 4.0 What is FIRST? A Book of Starting Points FIRST 4.0 FIRST Methodology • FIRST 4.0 supports the methodical approach to process control outlined in CGATS TR 012-2003 (Graphic Technology – Color Reproduction and Process Control for Packaging Printing) – While it is true that each organization employs its own workflow based upon its individual needs, there are many common elements and certain fundamentals to flexographic printing that are universal FIRST 4.0 Optimization • The goal of the optimization process is to identify the best combination of print variables to achieve the design requirements • The test conditions must represent normal production behavior and quality • The optimization process occurs prior to fingerprinting It involves identifying the print variables that will produce the desired results with the substrate and ink colors specified by the customer FIRST 4.0 Press Fingerprint • The primary objective of the fingerprint trial is to measure and record the print characteristics of a particular press, operating with specific settings and materials • The specific settings and materials are determined, in part, by the customer’s design requirements and by printer experience or optimization trials (best anilox for each deck, optimized ink formulation, best mounting tape, etc.) FIRST 4.0 Process Control FIRST 4.0 Press Characterization FIRST 4.0 Process Improvement FIRST 4.0 Current Certification Programs • Implementation Specialist – FIRST Operator Certification Level I – FIRST Implementation Certification Level II – FIRST Implementation Certification Level III • Press Operations – FIRST Operator Certification Level I – FIRST Press Operator Certification Level II – FIRST Press Operator Certification Level III • Prepress Operators – FIRST Operator Certification Level I – FIRST Prepress Operator Certification Level II – FIRST Prepress Operator Certification Level III FIRST 4.0 Using FIRST to Enhance Productivity FIRST 4.0 Survey I asked the same question to 30 different people working in the flexographic industry FIRST 4.0 Ask Yourself This Question Other than compensation, what would you like to get most out of your job? FIRST 4.0 #1 Answer ―I would look for personal satisfaction in the work I have produced‖ FIRST 4.0 WOW! 14 out of 30 people answered: “I would look for personal satisfaction in the work I have produced” 10 out of 30 people answered: “To be more involved in perfecting the processes used” Other answers include: ―3 = To learn something new everyday” “1 = Professional development” “2 = Experience” FIRST 4.0 FIRST Provides… • The starting points for Flexographic excellence • A common set of guidelines, tutorials, and data that can be used as communication and production tools • An understanding of the scientific approach to process color reproduction • Employee ownership through teamwork and collaboration • Clear concise objectives for process improvement projects FIRST 4.0 Questions? FIRST 4.0 Thank You for Your Attention! Joe Tuccitto jtuccitto@flexography.org FTA/TEST Education Director ... Points FIRST 4.0 Sections of FIRST Communication and Implementation Design Prepress Print FIRST 4.0 FIRST 4.0 The Foundation of FIRST Communication FIRST 4.0 External Communication FIRST 4.0 Consumer... Plate Maker A FIRST 4.0 Internal Communication FIRST 4.0 External Communication FIRST 4.0 External Communication FIRST 4.0 Key to Success FIRST 4.0 Design FIRST 4.0 Attributes of Flexo The use of... FIRST 4.0 FIRST 4.0 FIRST 4.0 The Mission of FIRST FIRST seeks to understand customers’ graphic requirements for reproduction and translate those aesthetic requirements into specifications for