Why is quality management important in the plastics industry?

Quality management ensures the consistent production of safe, defect-free plastic products that comply with regulations and industry standards. It boosts customer trust and reinforces a company’s reputation for reliability and commitment to quality.

How does QMS software help plastic manufacturers maintain quality and compliance?

QMS software automates and centralizes quality and compliance tasks, offering tools to manage testing, production, and supplier interactions. It improves traceability, risk management, and collaboration across departments and locations.

What are the main regulatory guidelines followed by plastics manufacturers?

Plastics manufacturers commonly follow ISO 9001:2016, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards. Additional standards may apply depending on the industry, such as IATF 16949 for automotive, ISO 13485 for medical devices, and AS9100 for aerospace.

How can the plastic manufacturing industry benefit from an eQMS?

An eQMS streamlines compliance, enhances collaboration, reduces costs, accelerates time to market, improves brand reputation, ensures customer satisfaction, and provides real-time data visibility across multi-site operations.

Why choose QT9 QMS to automate your plastics quality management tasks?

QT9 QMS offers over 25 modules including Document Control, Risk Management, and Safety Incidents. It is cloud-based, scalable, easy to use, integrates with ERP and BI tools, and includes full customer support for real-time quality management.

QMS Software for Plastics Manufacturing

ISO 9001 Ready

Automate CAPAs

Supplier Management

Audit Readiness

Process Variability

Plastic manufacturing processes are prone to variations that can affect consistency and quality.

Regulatory Pressure

Meeting regulatory and customer requirements creates documentation and audit stress.

Supplier Quality

Uncontrolled incoming materials can compromise production runs and create costly rework.

Solve plastics manufacturing challenges with QT9

Centralize and control all manufacturing specifications, work instructions and quality records with robust document management.
Automate nonconformance tracking and CAPA processes for efficient root cause analysis and defect prevention.
Streamline internal and external audits, simplifying ISO 9001 certification and ongoing regulatory adherence.
Ensure complete traceability of raw materials, production batches and finished plastic products.
Manage supplier quality effectively, from incoming material inspection to performance monitoring for resins and components.
Track and manage employee training and competency, ensuring your workforce is skilled in quality processes and safety protocols.

Real-Time Tracking

Identify and document quality issues on the shop floor to reduce scrap and improve traceability.

CAPA Management

Link CAPAs to audits, inspections or nonconformances to drive root-cause analysis and closure.

Inspections

Create part- or process-specific inspection plans with pass/fail limits and automated alerts.

Supplier Quality

Evaluate and track supplier performance in one place.

Document Control

Maintain full version control and access permissions.

Employee Training

Assign and verify training with electronic tracking and reminders.

Equipment Calibration

Avoid downtime and boost accuracy with automated calibration reminders and logs.

Complaint Handling

Log, investigate and close complaints faster with built-in escalation.

Audit Management

Schedule recurring audits and verify adherence to quality standards.

Embed ISO 9001 Quality Assurance in Plastics Operations

Map ISO clauses to procedures & workflows
Automate internal audits & CAPA cycles
Link nonconformances to root cause analysis
Monitor quality objectives by plant

Explore ISO 9001

Integrate ISO 14001 Environmental Controls and Metrics

Track emissions, waste, and resource usage
Link environmental audits to processes
Route corrective actions for violations
Support sustainability and compliance goals

Explore ISO 14001

Trace Raw Resins and Additives to Final Products

Capture lot genealogy of materials
Link resin grades to batches & products
Facilitate recalls or quality holds
Maintain audit-ready trace logs

Explore Features

Manage Mold Changes and Tooling Lifecycle Transparently

Route change requests with approvals
Track tool versions, maintenance, and use
Link tool changes to production batches
Record change logs and audit history

Explore Change Control Module

Monitor Process Stability with Real-Time Charts

Capture key metrics like pressure, temperature
Alert on deviations beyond limits
Analyze trends for process drift
Use SPC to improve yield & reduce scrap

Explore Platform

Ensure Supplier Materials Meet Plastic Industry Standards

Qualify and audit raw material vendors
Monitor supplier deviations & CAPA actions
Link supplier data to batch performance
Rate supplier compliance by each plastic

Explore Supplier Web-Portal

ISO 9001

International Quality Management System Standards

ISO 14001

International Environmental Management System Standards

FAQ: Plastics Quality Management

Plastic products continue to play a huge role in the makeup of commercial and retail products across the globe. Systematically managing quality enables those in plastic industries to deliver consistently safe and reliable products that comply with all applicable regulations and standards. Reliably producing defect-free plastic products that meet or exceed regulatory requirements and industry standards ensures customers and the greater public of a company’s reliability and commitment to quality, bolstering its reputation.

QMS software (eQMS) is an automated framework for managing quality and regulatory compliance. It standardizes, centralizes and integrates quality management processes, providing digital tools to monitor and manage testing, manufacturing and distribution. It captures and documents quality data and activity, providing easily accessible records. This improves tracking and traceability for streamlined, simpler regulatory compliance. QMS software can also help manage suppliers for better risk management and tackles many other operational and administrative quality tasks. An eQMS can connect departments, global offices, suppliers and customers, supporting greater collaboration and accuracy, minimizing risk and fostering continuous improvement.

Manufacturers working in the plastics industry are subject to a variety of regulations that depend on a plastic product’s makeup and use. In general, plastics manufacturers rely on the standards outlined in ISO 9001:2016, a global set of standards developed by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO). ISO 9001 uses a process-oriented approach to documenting and reviewing the structure, responsibilities and procedures required to obtain optimal quality. Other key standards applicable to the plastics industry include ISO 14001, which addresses environmental management systems, and ISO 45001, which establishes occupational health and safety management guidelines. Industry regulations may also be applicable, such as IATF 16949 in the automotive arena, ISO 13485 in the medical device industry, and AS9100 in the aerospace industry.

Investing in quality management helps prevent financial losses and contributes to the long-term profitability of a company. Automating quality and regulatory compliance with an eQMS brings a host of efficiencies to the plastics industry, including:

Easier collaboration
Reduced costs
Faster time to market
Better brand reputation
Customer satisfaction
Multi-site operations visibility
Real-time data for reporting and analysis
Simplified compliance management

With more than 25 modules that come standard, QT9 QMS excels at all of the processes the plastics industry needs for managing quality, including:

Document Control
Risk Management
Audit Management
Corrective Actions
Supplier Management
Employee Training
Inspections
Safety Incidents

QT9 QMS is a highly rated, easy-to-use and affordable quality management system based in the cloud for ultimate control and connection. QT9 QMS offers unlimited scalability and traceability, full customer support, an ERP integration and Business Intelligence tool to help visualize and make informed decisions using real-time data.

Group of professionals around computer screen in factory discuss QMS, ERP, MRP software integration

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Modules for any business size

With multiple modules to choose from, there's solutions for nearly anyone.

A solution that scales with you

Whether you are a large corporation or a small start-up you can use as many modules as you want.

Cross-Platform Support

Whether you use Android, iOS or Windows, QT9 works from virtually any web browser.

QMS Software for Plastics Manufacturing

Why plastic manufacturers need a smarter QMS

Process Variability

Regulatory Pressure

Supplier Quality

Solve plastics manufacturing challenges with QT9

Key features for plastic manufacturers

Real-Time Tracking

CAPA Management

Inspections

Supplier Quality

Document Control

Employee Training

Equipment Calibration

Complaint Handling

Audit Management

Built to support plastic manufacturing compliance standards

ISO 9001

ISO 14001

1,000+ customers worldwide

FAQ: Plastics Quality Management

More quality resources for plastic manufacturers

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QT9 Software Introduces New Podcast: QT9 Q-Cast

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Ready to transform you plastics manufacturing quality?

QT9™ QMS is flexible for your business.

Modules for any business size

A solution that scales with you

Cross-Platform Support