Gerenciamento de mudança de embalagem de defensivos agrícolas

Abstract

Agricultural pesticide packaging is essential to ensure product quality, user safety, and environmental protection. In this context, leakage can lead to customer complaints, economic losses, and environmental risks. Given this scenario, the present study aimed to analyze the possible causes of customer complaints related to leakage through the cap of pesticide containers marketed by a company in the agrochemical sector. To achieve this objective, a case study was conducted based on the analysis of customer complaint records, internal documents, investigation reports, and Change Management processes, complemented by a literature review on sealing systems, plastic packaging, polymer material properties, and quality management tools. The Ishikawa Diagram was used as the main analytical tool to identify and organize the possible causes of the problem. The results indicated that the leakage issue had a multifactorial nature, involving hypotheses related to closure torque, sealing failures, dimensional variations in the containers, impacts during transportation, and the mechanical characteristics of the cap used. Among the hypotheses investigated, the company identified stronger evidence associated with the performance of the cap previously in use, which had a lower weight, approximately 18 g, and was manufactured from polyethylene. As a corrective action, a new cap model weighing approximately 23 g, manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin and developed with design characteristics like a model already recognized internally for its superior operational performance, was approved and implemented. The implementation of this change required adjustments to the filling equipment; however, the associated costs were fully covered by the supplier, demonstrating the economic feasibility of the solution. After the implementation of the new cap, an apparent reduction in customer complaints related to leakage was observed, although there is still no consolidated statistical data available to objectively quantify the results achieved. It was concluded that the replacement of the cap represented a technically justified and economically viable corrective action with the potential to increase the robustness of the sealing system, contributing to improved packaging quality and a reduction in customer complaints.