INH Quality Management stands the test in leading garment factories

Groz-Beckert developed a quality management system for needle handling fulfilling the complex requirements of the sewing industry. The INH Quality Management adheres to compliance regulations and facilitates the handling of sewing machine needles in production plants. Most of all, it eliminates the risk of end users sustaining an injury from pieces of a broken sewing machine needle left in the garment. In addition, digital processes increase efficiency and offer the possibility to monitor and analyse needle consumption and other needle-related data.

Groz-Beckert’s patented INH (Ideal Needle Handling) Quality Management is already in use in many garment factories all over the world. The feedback given by the customers is consistently positive. It is not only that INH ensures a high level of safety, but also enables simple and efficient processes that is a great advantage. The fact that all information is available in digital form and that data-driven analyses and optimisations can be carried out is also an important reason for garment manufacturers to implement INH.

Needle breakages are unavoidable in ongoing production. It is important to ensure that all broken needle parts are found and that all needle breakages are documented. Thanks to INH work and time required for the search and documentation are reduced which results in increased work performance. The fully digital documentation enables a data-based analysis of the needle consumption and reveals potential for improvement by identifying problems such as incorrect machine settings or the use of the wrong needle.

How INH Quality Management works

INH Quality Management consists of several hardware and software components that work together to provide consistent needle handling processes. The main hardware element is the needle dispensing trolley, which can replace the entire needle dispensary. The trolley stores not only new needles and various tools that can be used for the search for needle fragments but is also the collection point for used and broken needles. All needle changes are documented directly on the trolley via an app developed specifically for INH.

The trolley can be used either as a mobile workstation or at a fixed location on the production line. The second hardware component is the needle return box. It is used to collect damaged and broken needles and to hand over needles in a safe and secure way.

The digital solution for the documentation of all needle changes is INH@Site and INH@Office. The INH@Site app – installed on a tablet on the trolley – is used to photograph used and broken needles and to carry out the documentation. In this way, there is no need to stick the needles on paper for storage. The documentation created in INH@Site is transferred to INH@Office, where the records can be viewed at any time. INH@Office is also used to maintain and manage all relevant data, such as production orders, sewing lines and machine inventory. Last but not the least, buyer audits can be executed online, as they can access all information at any time and without great effort.

Currently, INH Quality Management is being expanded into an integrated solution for all needle-related processes. Additional software components will enable the planning and execution of routine needle changes as well as the automated management and monitoring of needle inventories. This will further increase transparency and efficiency and allows an all-in-one needle management.

Reassured day by day

INH Quality Management also contributes to achieving sustainability goals. By eliminating the need to stick broken and damaged needles on paper and store them for an average of two years, resources and storage space are saved and used needles can be immediately disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

All in all, INH Quality Management by Groz-Beckert offers reliable and standardised processes that take into account both internal requirements and the buyers’ compliance regulations, resulting in increased efficiency and the certainty of delivering safe and high-quality end products.

See the video for quick information about the Groz-Beckert INH Quality Management for sewing machine needles.