GMI Standard 2024. Implications for the packaging industry

In the era of globalization, businesses and manufacturers face fierce market competition. So, how can businesses and manufacturers establish their position in the industrial printing and packaging industry? One of the keys to solving this problem is the GMI Standard. So, what is the GMI standard? And why does it help businesses and manufacturers solve this problem? Let’s explore this with An Quang in this article!

What is the GMI Standard?

The GMI Standard (Global Market Initiative) is an important process standard developed by the independent organization IOPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals) to evaluate and ensure printing quality. This standard helps brands and manufacturers maintain consistency and high quality for product packaging.

The GMI Standard evaluates packaging products based on several key factors such as printability, dimensional and shape consistency, water resistance, moisture resistance, fire resistance, durability, etc.

Strict adherence to the GMI Standard helps brands and manufacturers ensure the quality of their packaging products while also enhancing brand trust and value in the eyes of customers. The GMI label on products demonstrates the brand’s and manufacturer’s commitment to high quality and international standards in the packaging and printing industry.

The Role of the GMI Standard

The GMI Standard (Global Market Initiative) plays a crucial role in the packaging manufacturing industry as a comprehensive quality assurance and monitoring mechanism. Below are the highlights of the GMI Standard’s role in the packaging and printing industry:

• • Ensuring Product Quality: The GMI Standard sets strict quality evaluation criteria to ensure packaging is produced with the best quality. This ensures that products are stored and transported safely and correctly.
  • Enhancing Product Value: Packaging that meets the GMI Standard not only protects the product but also enhances brand value and image. Customers will feel more assured and confident when purchasing products with high-quality packaging and printing, creating a positive impression of the product.
  • Positioning and Strengthening the Manufacturer’s Standing: GMI certification helps brands and packaging manufacturers establish their position in the international market and strengthen their reputation in the domestic market. This helps them stand out in the industry and attract more customers.
  • Ensuring Safety and Environmental Protection Standards: The GMI Standard also sets requirements for human health safety and environmental protection. Achieving GMI certification means the product is produced sustainably and responsibly towards the environment.

The GMI Standard is not only a quality assurance tool but also a key factor in enhancing product value, brand positioning, and promoting sustainable production in the packaging and printing industry.

Learn more: What is Offset Printing?

How Does the GMI Standard Work?

The GMI Standard plays a crucial role in controlling and ensuring the consistency and quality of product packaging through the printer certification process, sample measurement during production, and evaluation of packaging and printing at the store.

The Certification Process Includes Three Main Steps

• • Self-Assessment and Equipment Verification: The printing service provider conducts an internal audit following GMI’s online guidelines to determine if they meet the minimum equipment standards and other criteria. After meeting the prerequisites, the provider will receive a certification invoice. After payment, GMI will send a test print kit to the provider.
  • Certification Payment and Print Test Kit: The GMI Standard’s actual print test kit evaluates the provider based on various qualities, including the ability to deliver standard print quality. This test kit assesses the provider’s capability to meet precise specifications and established quality requirements.
  • On-Site Consultation: Achieving GMI certification is not the end but the beginning of the journey to maintain printing standards and quality. Printing service providers must continuously ensure the quality of their work, provide premium printing services to all customers, and maintain the certified standards.

The GMI Standard process is based on the ISO 12647 standard – one of the best standards in the packaging and printing industry, using a scoring system to evaluate the quality of packaging and printing. Brands select aspects of packaging printing to monitor, and the GMI Standard sets parameters for each metric.

During or after printing, the GMI Standard tests print samples and scores each metric on a scale from 0 to 3:

• • Score 0: Ideal, no errors.
  • Score 1 and 2: Indicate minor errors.
  • Score 3: Major errors, entire print job failure.

Similar to golf, the goal of the GMI Standard is to keep the score as low as possible. This ensures that each printed product achieves the highest quality, maintaining consistency and brand integrity. This process not only helps brands maintain their reputation but also builds trust in the minds of customers.

How to Maintain GMI Certification?

After a packaging printing unit achieves GMI certification, maintaining the standard and quality of packaging printing is an essential part. This requires responsibility and commitment to ensure continuity and consistency in each packaging printing product before delivery to customers.

GMI Certification Levels

• • Platinum: Represents high-performance printing suppliers with a continuous score of no less than 90%.
  • Gold & Silver: Evaluates good printing suppliers with a continuous score of 80% – 89%.
  • Bronze: Represents printing suppliers under review with a continuous score below 79%.

Cost and Popularity

Typically, GMI adds about 15% to the cost of any printing job. This fee is paid by the brand to GMI for monitoring and testing their printed products.

GMI certification is becoming increasingly popular as it helps printing units build absolute trust from partners and customers both domestically and internationally. This provides a significant advantage, helping them enhance their reputation and attract more opportunities in the industry. GMI certification is not only proof of quality and reliability but also a sign of their commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of printed products.

Conclusion

With the increasing number of printing and packaging manufacturers, the GMI Standard is becoming more popular. As a derivative of ISO standards related to the packaging and printing industry, the GMI Standard brings authority and trust to business partners and consumers.

However, not every printer can register for the GMI/SGS standard. If a company wants to produce a product for distribution in one or more specific retail stores, they need to identify the appropriate printing service provider. If that provider is not yet GMI certified, they need a referral to start the certification process. The brand or retailer can usually provide this referral to initiate the certification process.

An Quang Joint Stock Company is proud that with 20 years of experience in providing Donco industrial air conditioning, printing and packaging materials (CTP plates, plate developing solution, gum solution, cutting rules, pressure-sensitive tape + steel alignment tape, various rubbers); high-automation machinery and equipment such as plate-making machines, unwinding machines, coating machines, laminating machines, bonding machines, die-cutting machines, folding and gluing machines, rigid box making machines, etc. We believe that An Quang’s products will bring satisfaction to our customers!

We hope that all the above information will help you better understand the GMI Standard. If you have any questions or need to purchase machinery and materials for the packaging and printing industry, please contact us via the hotline 0968866338 or message us on our fanpage: www.facebook.com/anquangjsc.

An Quang Joint Stock Company is honored to serve you!

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