The INH Quality Management

INH – Ideal handling of sewing machine needles

The modern clothing industry faces many challenges. In addition to the general requirement to achieve the highest possible productivity, maximum occupational safety and various environmental aspects also play a major role. Sewing plants also increasingly have to comply with strict regulations regarding the handling of sewing machine needles (= compliance) – regulations imposed by brand owners and buyers. They apply in particular to broken and damaged needles. The goal is to prevent fragments of a broken needle from remaining in items of clothing, posing a risk of injury for the end user and leading to compensation claims in the worst case scenario.

The problem with broken sewing machine needles

Needle breakages are unavoidable in ongoing production. But a needle change takes time and it is important to ensure that no pieces of broken needles remain in the end product.

To minimize the risk of injury resulting from broken needle fragments remaining in the end product, brand owners place different regulations on sewing plants. These regulations specify how to proceed in the event of a needle breakage. For example, maximum search times or procedures for documentation are defined. Every sewing plant implements these in their own way. In some cases, lots of time is wasted searching for pieces of broken needles. The documentation and archiving of each individual needle breakage also takes time and space.

The solution

The reduced work and time required for broken and damaged needles increases work performance– improving efficiency throughout the production process. The use of INH also enables environmentally-friendly disposal of used needles on site. The ergonomic work tools increase occupational safety and health protection.

Products and accessories

However, INH Quality Management not only offers a process tailored to individual requirements, but also provides the necessary accessories.

The main element is the needle dispensing trolley, which can replace the complete needle dispensary. The trolley stores not only new needles and various tools, but is also the collection point for used and broken needles. All needle changes are also documented directly on the trolley.

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Another accessory is the needle return box. This is used for collecting and returning broken and damaged needles. The inlaid needle pass contains all relevant details for documentation.

The digital solution

To avoid manual documentation and physical storage of needle fragments, INH Quality Management provides two software components: the mobile app INH@site and the browser-based management program INH@office.

The connection between INH@site and INH@office is made via the needle pass inserted in the needle return box. INH@office also offers various evaluation options.

Further information on the advantages of INH as well as the needle dispensing trolley and software components can be found in the brochure "INH Quality Management" and in the data sheets "The needle dispensing trolley" and "Smart INH".