GMI’s certification methodology covers all aspects of package manufacturing in services provided to consumer-packaged goods manufacturers, retailers, and other brand owners. Besides printer certification, services include on-site monitoring, in-store assessment, and training.

Packaging printers understand certification where their clients want documented proof that the highest standards of performance are in place. These printers know that earning and keeping the credentials is a prerequisite for doing business with brand-owning producers of consumer packaged goods.

Printers who can make GMI’s benchmarks their own, becoming part of a select group that less capable printers can’t enter is the whole point of the undertaking.

• First, you need to complete a self-evaluation form online and submit it to GMI Corporation. This form will help GMI determine if you meet the minimum equipment and capability requirements for certification. You can find the form here.
• Second, you need to pay the certification fees and receive a print test kit from GMI. The print test kit will evaluate your ability to produce printing plates that meet the standards, print according to the specifications, and match the provided samples.
• Third, you need to schedule an onsite consultation with a GMI engineer. The engineer will visit your facility and assess your performance in four areas: prepress, plate making, printing press, and post press. The engineer will also provide you with feedback and recommendations for improvement.
• Fourth, you need to maintain your GMI certification by submitting samples for evaluation and passing in-store assessments. Your supplier score will reflect your quality and consistency. You can achieve different levels of certification depending on your score: platinum, gold, silver, or bronze.

If a company wants to create a product to go into a certain retail store or stores, they need to determine the print service provider they want to use. If that printer is not certified, there needs to be a referral to GMI/SGS. The brand can usually accomplish this. The retailer may also be able to make the referral to begin the certification process.

The GMI process is based off of ISO 12647, a family of standards for printing processes. GMI took these standards and applied a scoring system to them. Brands can pick the aspects of printing that they would like to monitor, and GMI sets the parameters for each metric. Once a print job is underway or complete, GMI tests printing samples an assigns a score to each metric. Items outside of tolerance earn points, which range from 0 to 3:

0 is ideal. No flaws.

1 and 2 indicate minor flaws.

3 denotes a major flaw and an automatic f ail for the entire print job.

During the printing processes the printer sends sample sheets directly to GMI for testing. If they pass, the packaging gets created and sent to the vendor. Once the vendor’s items hits the shelves, GMI often follows up on their original testing by taking in-store measurements. They monitor the same metrics while also counting product totals. Because vendors pay GMI for every submission, GMI checks whether printing and product totals match. They are not pleased when a vendor puts more products in stores after submitting fewer to GMI.

A small number of printers produce quality work so consistently that they are called High Performing Suppliers (HPS). An HPS can ship packaging and printed materials before GMI tests and approves their jobs. For any GMI retailer, there are typically one or two out of forty or more suppliers. Adams is one of them for Target, CVS, Lowes and many other national retailers. Regardless of whether our jobs will go to GMI for testing, we aim for GMI levels of compliance every time.

The Certification Process

There is a distinct difference between scoring a printing job with GMI and achieving GMI certification as a printing vendor.

For the vendor, the GMI certification process is relatively simple and pain-free. There are three phases that a printing vendor must go through to become GMI certified.

Self Evaluation

The self-evaluation includes conducting an internal audit. Guided by an online GMI tool, a vendor can determine whether they meet the minimum equipment qualifications and other criteria. Vendors receive an invoice for certification once they’ve achieved the prerequisites. Therefore, after payment is received, GMI sends the vendor the test print test kit.

Print Test

The actual print test kit evaluates vendors on a spectrum of qualities. That includes the vendor’s ability to deliver print quality that is up to the established standard. The GMI test kit evaluates the vendor’s capacity and ability to deliver on exact specifications.

Maintaining GMI Certification

Once an organization achieves GMI certification, the journey isn’t over. There is a lot of work to be done in terms of maintaining standards and printing quality. It is also the responsibility of printing vendors to attend to the quality of their print jobs and ensure that they deliver premium work to every client.

Additionally, there are three levels of GMI certification. The tiers exist to acknowledge printers, which boast a flawless record, and simultaneously identify where other printers need to be more attentive.

Platinum: Elite printers with a historic consistency score of no less than 90%.

Gold & Silver: Printers in good standing with a historic consistency score between 80%-89%.

Bronze: Printers with a performance history under review (under 79%).