Stainless steel bottling line with amber liquid filling glass bottles at high speed under industrial halogen lighting
LINE SPEED
600CPM
NOMINAL
FILL TOLERANCE
±0.3mL
PASS
REJECTION RATE
0.04%
OPTIMAL
TORQUE SPEC
18–22in·lb
VERIFIED
Precision Beverage Bottling · Est. 2009

Every bottle.Every variable.Accounted for.

600 containers per minute. Stainless nozzles, pneumatic arms, optical sensors — all calibrated to your SKU before the first bottle hits the conveyor.

600CPM
Max Throughput
99.96%
Fill Accuracy
3Shifts
Production Windows
SQF 3
Certification Level
Scroll to Audit
Pre-Production Inspection Form

The 13-Point Line Audit

Walk your facility against each checkpoint. Discover the gaps before a third-party auditor does.

13/ 13 CheckpointsALL PASS

Full Clean-In-Place cycle with validated caustic and acid rinse sequences. Temperature, concentration, and contact time logged per batch.

Audit Question

Does your current line log CIP parameters per batch with ATP verification?

Technical Parameters
Caustic Concentration
2.0–2.5%
Rinse Temp
≥ 82°C
Contact Time
≥ 20 min
ATP Verification
< 10 RLU

Servo-driven fill heads with real-time flow-meter feedback. Every nozzle calibrated individually. Net contents compliance per NIST Handbook 133.

Audit Question

Can you demonstrate per-nozzle calibration records for your last 10 production runs?

Technical Parameters
Fill Tolerance
±0.3 mL
Nozzle Count
24 heads
Calibration Interval
Per SKU
Overfill Rejection
Automatic

In-line torque monitoring on every cap. Statistical process control charts generated in real time. Removal torque tested every 30 minutes.

Audit Question

Do you have SPC torque charts with Cpk ≥ 1.33 on file for FDA inspection?

Technical Parameters
Application Torque
18–22 in·lb
Removal Torque
12–18 in·lb
Test Frequency
Every 30 min
SPC Control
Real-time

Vision system verifies label placement to ±1mm on every container. Date codes, lot numbers, and regulatory panels confirmed before the pallet builds.

Audit Question

Does your labeling system verify every mandatory FDA panel field per container?

Technical Parameters
Placement Tolerance
±1.0 mm
Vision Inspection
100% inline
Code Verification
OCR + barcode
Rejection Rate
< 0.05%

Pre-evacuation and counter-pressure filling for DO-sensitive beverages. Inline DO meter on every fill head. Critical for craft beer, wine, and sensitive RTD formulations.

Audit Question

Are you measuring dissolved oxygen at the fill point or only at packaging end?

Technical Parameters
DO at Fill
< 50 ppb
Headspace O₂
< 0.5 ppm
CO₂ Purge
Pre + post fill
Measurement
Inline continuous

Dedicated line scheduling for allergen-containing SKUs. Full allergen flush validated by ELISA test before next non-allergen run. Documented in allergen control plan.

Audit Question

Do you have a written allergen control plan with ELISA validation records?

Technical Parameters
Allergen Flush
ELISA validated
Scheduling Buffer
Dedicated slots
Visual Inspection
Pre-run checklist
Documentation
Lot-level traceability

Empty container inspection station removes chips, cracks, and contamination before filling. Full-bottle vision check post-fill for headspace, fill level, and closure seating.

Audit Question

Is your container inspection 100% inline or periodic manual sampling only?

Technical Parameters
Empty Inspection
Camera + light
Fill Level Check
100% vision
Closure Seating
Inline camera
Reject Confirmation
Secondary check

Electronic batch records capture every variable in real time: operator ID, equipment state, in-process checks, deviations, and corrective actions. FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.

Audit Question

Are your batch records electronic with a tamper-evident audit trail?

Technical Parameters
Record System
Electronic MES
Audit Trail
21 CFR Pt 11
Deviation Capture
Real-time flags
Retention Period
5 years minimum

Zone-based environmental monitoring program with scheduled swabbing of contact and non-contact surfaces. Listeria and yeast/mold trending reviewed monthly.

Audit Question

Do you have a written environmental monitoring program with trending data?

Technical Parameters
Zone Coverage
Zones 1–4
Swab Frequency
Weekly (Zone 1)
Organisms Tested
Listeria, Y/M, APC
Trend Review
Monthly QA sign-off

Documented changeover procedures for every format and SKU combination. Toolless quick-change format parts. CIP validation data on file for each product contact pathway.

Audit Question

Are your changeover SOPs validated and revision-controlled with operator sign-off?

Technical Parameters
Changeover Time
< 45 min target
Format Parts
Toolless quick-change
CIP Validation
Per pathway
SOP Version Control
Current revision

Product-contact compressed air tested per ISO 8573-1 Class 1.2.1. Oil-free compressors, inline filtration, and quarterly microbiological testing of air at point of use.

Audit Question

Do you have quarterly ISO 8573-1 test certificates for product-contact air?

Technical Parameters
Air Class
ISO 8573-1 Class 1
Compressor Type
Oil-free
Test Frequency
Quarterly
Dew Point
≤ −40°C at 7 bar

All primary packaging suppliers on approved vendor list with current Certificates of Analysis, food-grade certifications, and annual quality audits on file.

Audit Question

Is your approved vendor list current with annual audit records for all primary packaging?

Technical Parameters
Approved Vendor List
Current + signed
CoA Verification
Per lot received
Supplier Audit
Annual
Food-Grade Certs
On file, current

No pallet ships without QA sign-off on complete batch record, in-process check results, and finished product COA. Hold-and-release system with physical quarantine labeling.

Audit Question

Can you demonstrate a full mock recall completed in under 4 hours with 100% lot traceability?

Technical Parameters
Release Authority
QA Manager sign-off
Hold System
Physical + system
COA Issuance
Per batch
Traceability Test
< 4 hours recall

How many of these 13 checkpoints does your current line pass?

Get the Full PDF Checklist
Regulatory & Quality Certifications

Audit-ready. Every day.

SQF-3

SQF Level 3

SQFI / GFSI

Comprehensive food safety and quality management system. Highest tier certification under GFSI benchmarking.

Audited annually by SQFI-certified third-party. Last audit score: 97/100.

FDA

21 CFR Parts 110 & 117

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for food facilities. FSMA Preventive Controls Rule compliant.

Food Safety Plan on file. PCQI-certified facility manager.

TTB

TTB Licensed

Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Federal Basic Permit for alcohol beverage bottling. Covers beer, wine, and spirits co-packaging.

Permit #: BW-CA-XXXXX. Renewed current year.

ISO

ISO 8573-1 Class 1

Compressed Air Quality

Product-contact compressed air tested quarterly. Oil-free compressors, inline 0.01 μm filtration.

Dew point ≤ −40°C. Particle count < 0.1 mg/m³.

HACCP

HACCP Certified

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points

Seven-principle HACCP plan with validated critical control points for thermal, pH, and physical hazards.

Reviewed annually. All CCPs with validated monitoring.

ORG

USDA Organic Handling

National Organic Program

Certified organic handling facility. Dedicated organic scheduling with allergen and non-organic flush protocols.

Certificate on file. Annual NOP audit completed.

Line Specification Reference
Current Configuration
Max Line Speed
600CPM
Fill Heads
24Nozzles
Container Range
50–2000mL
Format Change
< 45min
Min Run Size
500Cases
Dissolved O₂
< 50ppb
Field Reports

From the production floor.

+3.1%
OEE Gain
We brought our dissolved oxygen spec to 40 ppb — something our previous co-packer told us was physically impossible. Bottleline hit it on the third trial run and held it for 18 months of production.
Marcus Hollingsworth, Director of Operations at Meridian Craft Beverages
Marcus Hollingsworth
Director of Operations · Meridian Craft Beverages
0
FDA 483 Observations
Their batch records survived an unannounced FDA inspection without a single 483 observation. That's not luck — that's a quality system that's been stress-tested. I sleep better knowing our co-man has 21 CFR Part 11 MES.
Priya Nambiar, VP Quality Assurance at Sunrise Functional Drinks
Priya Nambiar
VP Quality Assurance · Sunrise Functional Drinks
7
Months to Own Line
We scaled from 800 cases per week at a co-packer to running our own 4-SKU line at 420 CPM in seven months. The changeover documentation they handed us was ready to go into our own SOP library on day one.
Daniel Ferreira, Founder & CEO at Paloma Sparkling Co.
Daniel Ferreira
Founder & CEO · Paloma Sparkling Co.
1.47
Torque Cpk
Torque Cpk of 1.47 across a six-month production window. I've audited 30+ co-manufacturers and I've never seen closure data that clean. It's not a talking point — they showed me the SPC charts on the first call.
Sandra Okonkwo, Quality Systems Manager at Great Lakes Bottling Group
Sandra Okonkwo
Quality Systems Manager · Great Lakes Bottling Group
2h 47m
Mock Recall Time
Our recall simulation came in at 2 hours 47 minutes — full lot traceability, forward and back. The SQF auditor noted it as a best practice. That capability came directly from the systems Bottleline built when we were still a co-pack customer.
James Whitfield, Plant Manager at Cascadia Kombucha Works
James Whitfield
Plant Manager · Cascadia Kombucha Works
Choose Your Path

How many checkpoints does your line pass?

Two ways to find out. Both give you genuine intelligence you can use on the floor tomorrow.

13-Point Line Audit
High Intent · PDF Download

The complete audit checklist used by our QA team on every new line startup. Includes tolerance tables, compliance references, and sign-off fields ready for your SOP binder.

  • All 13 checkpoints with parameter tables
  • FDA 21 CFR & SQF reference mapping
  • Pre-run sign-off fields for each step
  • Editable PDF — ready for your QMS

No spam. One resource. Unsubscribe anytime.

Bottling Readiness Score
7 Questions · Instant Grade
Progress0 / 7

01.What is your current or target line speed?

02.Do you have a written HACCP plan with validated CCPs?

03.How do you currently track batch records?

04.What is your current SQF or GFSI certification level?

05.Have you completed a mock recall in the last 12 months?

06.How do you verify fill accuracy?

07.What is your target production volume?

Ready to talk line specs?

Speak with a Bottleline process engineer. Bring your SKU sheet and current OEE numbers.

Contact a Process Engineer