sample="quota" bates="513157996" isource="rjr" decade="1990" class="ui" date="19900204" TOBACCO DIVISION QUALITY ASSURANCE WEEKLY STATUS W.E. FEBRUARY 4, 1990 LEAF PROCESSING Internal 1. Strip quantities produced on 1989 burley for week ending January 26 show objectionable stems and pass 8 mesh material in the final strips at Brook Cove 96% within specifications. Objectionable stems at Davie were 97% within specs. All other parameters at both plants were 99% or better within specs. 2. Brook Cove completed processing of its portion of the 1989 burley tobaccos with a short special run on January 29th of R&D tobaccos. These tobaccos had been run on the 29th was to return these tobaccos to strip and by-product form. A similar run at Davie will be made in a few weeks. 3. Foreign matter found in stem analysis core samples for week ending January 29th: External 1. Henry Warren and Jerry Heath reported from Brazil that processing of RJR-USA tobaccos at RJR-Brazil and Adams began on January 30. No problems were encountered with specifications. 2. Wayne White and Danny Hudson ware on site at RJR-McDonald (Canada) for the processing of flue-cured grade 44 during January 29-31. All specifications were met. Nicotine averaged 2.3% for the period. 3. Jerry Henderson finished inspection of Zimbabwe tobaccos on January 26 and is currently in Thailand inspecting RJR-US purchased K10X burley. Applied Technology 1. The correlation study between the on-line IE-512 nicotine analyzer and the in-lab InfraAlyzer continues at Davie. One 512 on B-unit appears to be yielding excellent results. The other 512 on A-unit still has its problems. There is currently no acceptable moisture calibrations available for the 512. QUALITY ASSURANCE STEMMERY REPORT - BURLEY TOBACCO The Percentage of Redried Strip Quality Tests Within Processing Specifications For Week Ending 1-26-90 DAVIE COUNTY ON 3/4" 100 Pass 3/8" 99.2 Pass 8-Mesh 98.9 Total Stem 100 Obj. Stem 97.3 Moisture 97.7 BROOK COVE ON 3/4" 100 Pass 3/8" 100 Pass 8-mesh 96.1 Total Stem 100 Obj. Stem 95.8 Moisture 98.5 Distribution: Mr. R. E. Clements Dr. G. R. Dimarco Mr. R. M. Henderson MR. D. K. Isbister Mr. F. M. Lockamy Mr. T. J. Porter Mr. A. J. Schindler Mr. S. L. Smith Mr. H. H. Warren Mr. J. B. Wilson QUALITY ASSURANCE - TOBACCO PROCESSING W. E. 01-28-90 1. The frequency distribution of data collected at 605 for the ammoniation process is shown below: G-7-2 Residual Ammonia Control over the residual ammonia of G-7-2 was very goo during the week ending 01-28-90. G-7-4 Residual Ammonia Control over the residual ammonia in G-7-4 continued to be good with no tests out of limits. There were an inadequate number of tests to produce a meaningful frequency distribution. C30-A Residual Ammonia Control over the residual ammonia in C-30A improved from the previous week even though there was no change in the percentage of tests out of ship limits. 2. Frequency distributions of data collected at PRO on coarse stems and fines in WT Shorts and fines in Finished Shorts are shown below. WT Shorts Stems There was little change in the control over the stems in WT Shorts from the previous week. WT SHORTS Fines Control over the fines in WT Shorts improved slightly from the previous week. FINISHED SHORTS Fines Control over the fines in Finished Shorts continues to be good. 3. Frequency distribution of average bulker filling capacity and moisture for the G-13 process are shown below: G13-23 Number of Bulkers of G13-23 Produced: 63-1- 47 Filling Capacity The distribution of average bulker filling capacity of G13-23 at 63-1 continues to be good. The distribution of average bulker moistures of G13-23 declined slightly from the previous week. 4. Below are graphs of data collected on fines in the G-13 process. Data shown are for individual test points. There was little change in the levels of fines in G13-23 from the previous week. 5. Frequency distributions of data collected on water solubles, base weights , and moisture for the G-7 process follow. G-7-1 Water Solubles Control over G-7-1 water solubles improved only slightly at 90 from the previous week. Control at 923 improved slightly, whole control at 603 declined. G-7-1 Base Weights Control over the base weight of G-7-1 improved slightly at 90 and 92 from the previous week. Control at 603 declined slightly. G-7-1 Moisture Control over the finished moisture of G-7-1 continued to be excellent at 90. Finished moisture control at both 92 and 603 declined from previous weeks even though there was no significant change in the percentage of tests out of limits. 6. Below are frequency distributions of data collected on water solubles, base weights, and moisture for G-7BC produced at 603 for the week ending 01-28-90. G-7BC is manufactured for export and has no specifications. 7. On the following pages are graphs of nicotine and sugar data for Tobacco Processing products. Data for G-7 products are averages of individual tests performed in the plant by NIR. Data for G-13 are shift composite samples analyzed by Autoanalyser by QA Laboratory Services. 8. Below are the results from quality checks made at the, BIGIF Operation at 608-1 for the week ending 01-28-90. Total Checks 35,985 Total Non-conforming 112 Non-conforming Rate 0.3% 9. Tobacco Processing products conformed to specifications at the 95% level for the week ending 01-28-90, with the exception G-7-1 water solubles at 90 Processing with only 93% conformance. 10. The following is a summary of data collected on paper and foil found in samples of Group 1 Finished Shorts processed at P.R.O. during the week ending 01-28-90. 11. Tonya Young, Tommy Hickman, and Pat Vest from QA met with Percy Phillips, Ed Bernasek, Amos Westmoreland, and Dog Young from R&D on January 23 to discuss analysis of G-7DAP. R&D stated at this meeting that phosphorus is the critical measurement that is needed on this product. No additional analyses are to be required outside those already measured on regular G-7 production. R&D has recommended that a X-Ray Fluorescence method be used for the phosphorus analysis. QA has an Oxford Lab-X 1000 XRF unit that is not presently being used. The instrument levels of phosphorus over the range to be tested. R&D must make these samples which have been promised for delivery by the first week in February. 12. Tonya Young, Lee Williams of Processing Engineering, and Ted Sparks from 90 Processing were in Waltham, Mass. on January 25 and 26 to inspect the Automated Basis Weight Tester under construction at Foster-Miller, Inc. The instrument was in final stages of construction and is due to be shipped the first week of February for installation at 90 Processing. FLAVOR & ADHESIVE 1. Samples tested during this week: Samples Received Analyses Done FLAVORING 73 132 ADHESIVES 48 93 Flavoring materials included three shipments of glycerine and propylene glycol, two of invert sugar and corn syrup, and one load of licorice and plasticizer. A small amount of tobacco flavor concentrate (TC-2) from inventory was rejected (did not match GC standard). 2. The following adhesive items required viscosity adjustment to bring them into specification Item Mfg. Date N-11 (carton end adh.) 1/23/90 MT8009 (tipping adh.) 1/29/90 1238A (label & case) 1/29/90 A total of 14 finished adhesive batches and two polyvinyl alcohol solutions were produced this week. 3. Miscellaneous materials included nine revised burley casings, two non-standard licorice samples and a new flavor raw material. QA evaluated the quality of two McAndrews & Forbes spray dried licorice samples submitted by Purchasing for consideration in lower cost applications. 4. Initial analysis for composition of a Lonza blend of Hystar and glycerine, submitted from R&D, was done. QA will compare the data with the supplier before recommending specifications.