In flexography, hitting the target once is not the same as controlling the process.

Before a printer can optimize, fingerprint, characterize or meaningfully improve a press condition, the process needs to be stable enough to produce repeatable results. But achieving that stability requires more than watching color. Ink, substrate, anilox, plates, mounting materials, impression, tension, drying and other variables all interact to influence what ultimately comes off the press.

In this FIRST Friday, FTA’s Kenny Tucker and Chris Standifer will explore why stability is such an important foundation of the FIRST methodology and practical process control. Through a conversational discussion, they’ll look at what a stable process really means, how printers can recognize when a process is drifting, why constantly adjusting the press can sometimes make problems worse, and how measurement and documentation help separate normal process variation from problems that require action.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating a process you understand, can repeat and can continually improve.

Speakers:

Kenny Tucker

Kenny serves as the Director of Technical Education at the Flexographic Technical Association. Previously, he held the position of Assistant Director at Clemson University’s Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. A 2004 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communications, Kenny began his career at Sealed Air Corporation, where he worked across various roles, including prepress, color management, inkjet and remote proofing, workflow automation, expanded gamut printing, press characterizations, and managing graphic technologies. He later joined Anderson & Vreeland as a Technology Specialist, focusing on the installation of plate-making equipment, RIP software, and inkjet proofing solutions. Before working for Clemson, Kenny worked as Production Manager at Frontier Label, now Sttark Labels, overseeing inventory procurement, label production, project management, and maintenance operations. In 2019, he returned to Clemson University, coordinating industry-focused projects, seminars, research initiatives, and training workshops. In his free time, Kenny enjoys fishing, camping, and spending quality time with his family.

Chris Tucker

Chris Standifer is the Manager of Membership and Communities at FTA. His background and passion is in Association and Education, but really, he just wants to help people find their passion, grow their passion, and get to their goals. In his role as liaison to FTA community groups, he also takes pride in creating connections in the industry to strengthen bonds, aid networking, and helping people find a home.