FIRST Company Certification

Holding Employees Accountable to a Consistent Optimization Process

Optimization—testing the consumables, picking the best match of products to give us the best quality and cost benefits—is always exciting. We can limit the consumables on the shelf and reduce variation. But how do we get consistency if we don’t decide on the methodology we will use to set up this product every day, with … Continued

Three Individuals Honored with FTA President’s Award

As I kick off this announcement each year, I feel it’s important to remind everyone that the FTA President’s Award has been bestowed on a very diverse group of people since its inception in 1991. Admittedly, the criteria are very loose. This was a conscious decision made so that our team had the flexibility to … Continued

Best Label Co Sings the Praises of FIRST Individual Certifications & FIRST Company Certification

When FTA member Best Label Co decided to pursue FIRST Individual Certifications, it was for a simple reason: “Because statistical process control and printing to the numbers are essential,” recalls its General Manager John Crammer. As press operators, prepress personnel and implementation specialists at the company’s Union City, CA location achieved their individual certifications, it … Continued

Smyth Companies, Inc. Celebrating 140 Years of Business

ST. PAUL, MN—Founded in 1877, Smyth Companies, a leader in the printing and packaging industry, announced the celebration of their 140th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest businesses in the state of Minnesota. In honor of this historic milestone, Smyth will be hosting celebrations with their 550+ employees and special guests throughout … Continued

Berry Global Acquires Specialty Tape Manufacturer Adchem Corp.

EVANSVILLE, IN—FTA member Berry Global Group Inc., a leading producer of adhesives, specialty films and consumer packaging, has acquired Adchem Corp., a Riverhead, NY-based manufacturer of specialty tape products for the automotive, construction, electronics, graphic arts, medical and general tape markets, according to reports. Berry Global Group’s products include engineered materials, nonwoven specialty materials and … Continued

Smyth Companies Sees Large Returns on FIRST Company Certification

A little can equal a lot. Take, for example, the incrementally small bump in price to go from a medium to large soft drink at any fast food restaurant: How can McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and the like make any meaningful profit from selling an additional 20-oz. of soda for pennies? The answer is, they … Continued