The manual

All incoming packages must be placed on the designated table in the hallway outside the lab.

Do not bring unopened boxes directly into the lab.

Whenever possible, unbox all deliveries outside the lab.

If items must be brought inside, unbox immediately upon entry.

Purpose: Prevent cardboard and debris from introducing moisture or contaminants into the lab.

1. Before Entering the Lab

Wipe shoes before entry.

Ensure you are wearing closed-toe shoes.

2. Personal Decontamination

Remove:

Jewelry

Loose items

Clothing with lint, pet hair, or shedding fibers

Tie back hair securely.

3. Storage

Place all personal belongings in assigned lockers.

Optional: Change footwear (lab-safe shoes may be stored in lockers).

1. Handwashing

Wash hands at sink for 30 seconds.

Dry with a paper towel.

2. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Put on:

Clean lab coat

Hairnet

Gloves

3. Glove Sanitation

Sanitize gloves using alcohol before proceeding.

4. Entry to Clean Area

Enter the clean room production area.

(Note: A partition will eventually separate changing and production zones.)

1. Surface Sanitation

Using:

Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol

Lint-free cloth

Wipe all work surfaces thoroughly.

Allow surfaces to air dry for 30 seconds.

2. Flow Hood Requirements

All Shilajit handling must occur under the flow hood.

Ensure:

Hood is ON

Set to medium or higher (not lowest setting)

3. Silicone Mat Setup

Place silicone mat on surface.

Spray with alcohol, wipe, and allow to air dry (30 seconds).

1. Batch Handling

Remove 2–4 bags at a time, depending on workload.

2. Initial Sanitation

Spray outer bags with alcohol.

Place under flow hood on sanitized silicone mat.

Allow to air dry.

3. Opening Bags

Use a sanitized scalpel.

Cut an "X" from corner to corner on one side.

Important Note:

Shilajit must be opened quickly.

If left too long, it will stick to plastic.

If sticking occurs, return briefly to freezer before retrying.

Thawing Process

Remove plastic completely.

Allow Shilajit to sit under the flow hood for:

~1 hour (±30 minutes depending on room temperature)

If accessible turn on dehumidifier to help dry it out while thawing

Preparing Jars

1. Retrieving Containers

Use pre-sanitized jars from designated cabinet.

2. Additional Sanitation

Spray exterior of jars with alcohol.

Wipe and place under flow hood.

3. Organization

Arrange jars neatly in rows for efficient filling.

Switching Gloves

Replace standard gloves with silicone gloves.

Wash with:

Warm water + soap

Rinse thoroughly.

Sanitize:

Apply rubbing alcohol.

Rub for 30 seconds.

Allow to air dry under hood.

Shilajit Handling & Texture Awareness

Work Shilajit like clay:

Fold

Stretch

Roll using a silicone mat

Texture Indicators:

Too hard → still frozen

Too wet → not fully thawed

Too sticky/gooey → too warm / humid

Aim for a pliable, workable consistency.

Weighing & Portioning

1. Standard Weights

3g jars

5g jars

2. Acceptable Range

Never below target weight

Acceptable overage:

5g jars: 5.0 – 5.2g (max ~5.5g)

3. Process

Break off a workable portion (approx. fist-sized).

Weigh using scale.

Adjust by adding small pieces as needed.

Efficiency Tip

Place multiple measured portions on scale mat:

Zero scale after each addition

Batch portions before filling jars

Filling Jars

Place measured Shilajit portions into jars.

Complete all jars in batch before moving to next step.

Adding Distilled Water

1. Water Source

Use lab-distilled water only (not bottled).

2. Flask Preparation

Use clean flask:

Washed

Dried

Alcohol-sanitized

Air dried (30 seconds under hood)

3. Pipette Sanitation

Spray with alcohol.

Draw and expel alcohol multiple times.

Air dry for 30 seconds.

4. Application

Add water drops:

3g jars: 1 drop

5g jars: 1–2 drops

20g, 30g, and 120g jars: typically, none needed

Adding Lids & Lid Liners

After adding distilled water:

3g jars:

Place lid directly on jar (no liner)

5g, 20g, 30g, 120g jars:

Add lid liners first, then lids

Lid liners & lids location:

Stored in large bins on the far wall

Workflow Tip:

Transfer a working amount into a smaller sanitized bin for efficiency

Lid Liner Placement

Wear gloves and ensure all items are sanitized

Place liners carefully on each jar:

Ensure correct size

Ensure proper fit

If liner does not fit:

Place in QA bin:

Located under drying racks beneath the table

Securing Lids

Screw lids on straight (avoid cross-threading)

Tighten to firm hand-tightness

Important:

Do NOT overtighten (can cause cracking)

Do NOT leave loose (risk of leakage)

If you notice:

Cracks

Glass defects

Improper threading

→ Set aside in QA area for review

Quality Control (Ongoing During Process)

Throughout the entire packing process, continuously check for:

Glass defects (chips, cracks)

Cleanliness (smudges, residue)

Debris or contamination

Broken shards

If questionable:

Set aside for QA review (do not discard unless confirmed)

Bin Packing & Labeling

Place finished jars into plastic bins for transfer.

Each bin must be labeled with:

Product type (e.g., 3g Cutie Jars)

Batch number

Date

Your initials

Note:

Future system will include barcode labeling

For now: handwritten labels required

Transfer to Assembly Room

Bring completed bins to Assembly Room

Place in designated "Inbox / To-Do" area:

Located on the south wall

Timing:

Can be done:

Before cleaning

Or at end of full process

Overview

Similar initial process to jar prep (thawing + sanitation)

Instead of jars → use large flasks (up to 3000 mL)

Shilajit Preparation

Process 2–4 bags at a time

Follow same:

Thawing

Sanitizing

Flow hood procedures

Flask Preparation

Sanitize flasks:

Spray with alcohol

Wipe interior with lint-free cloth

Air dry (30 seconds under hood)

Measuring Shilajit

Weigh 480 grams per flask (after scale calibration)

Technique:

Break into smaller portions

Roll into log shapes for easier insertion

Transferring into Flask

Critical Step

Avoid touching sides of flask:

Shilajit will stick and become difficult to remove

Method:

Gently guide log through center of flask opening

Use controlled, careful placement (precision is key)

Adding Distilled Water

Sanitize measuring container (same alcohol process)

Place on scale and zero out

Measure:

400 grams distilled water

Pour into flask with Shilajit

Initial Mixing

Hold flask:

One hand on neck

One hand on base

Gently swirl/slosh in circular motion

1–2 minutes

Clockwise or counterclockwise

If Shilajit sticks to glass:

Tilt flask carefully

Let water run over stuck areas to dissolve

Sealing Flask (Temporary Cover)

Use plastic sealing film (square sheets)

Steps:

Cut enough pieces (approx. 4 squares worth)

Remove backing

Place clean side over flask opening

Stretch gently to seal

Do NOT overstretch (tears easily)

Wobbler Mixing Process

Setup:

Place silicone mat

Place wobbler fully on mat (all 4 feet stable) keeps it from walking

Settings:

Speed: 80 (no more, no less)

Placement:

Flasks upright

Evenly spaced

Stable

Timing:

Run for ~12 hours (overnight)

Do NOT exceed 24 hours

Post-Wobble Processing (Next Day)

Move flasks back under flow hood

Remove plastic seal (set aside for reuse)

Adding Glycerin

Equipment:

Jug of vegetable glycerin (sits under the flow hoods)

Sanitation:

Spray area with alcohol

Air dry (30 seconds)

Securing Hose

Insert hose slightly inside flask opening

Secure with:

1–2 rubber bands (recommended)

Pour Process

Step 1:

Pour glycerin to 1500 mL

Step 2:

Pause and gently swirl flask:

1–2 minutes

Mix glycerin + Shilajit thoroughly

Step 3:

Continue pouring to:

3000 mL total

Storage or Use

If using immediately:

Move on to bottling and filling

If storing:

Label flask with:

Batch

Date

Initials

Store in:

Cool

Dark

Sealed environment

All tincture filling is done on the weight filling machine.

Components

Hose with filter

Hose attachment

Nut

Removable base plate

Machine itself, with power cord

Setup

1. Place all components onto a clean, sanitized table under the flow hood.

2. Feed a portion of the hose into the mechanism on the left side.

Feed the hose in from the bottom, working your way up.

Note:

Do not close the little blue door fully — it is very hard to get back open.

3. Connect the hose to the nozzle.

4. Use the nut to connect the apparatus in place.

5. Adjust the nozzle with the screw on the back so it sits just at the edge of the bottle opening.

6. Spray everything down with rubbing alcohol.

Allow to air dry for at least 30 seconds.

Flushing the Line

Before running tincture:

Get two medium sized flasks

Fill one with distilled water

Place the other empty on the base plate underneath the nozzle

Run the machine so distilled water moves through the pipes

Running the Machine

Turn on using the green switch on the side.

Clear — sets the weight back down to zero. Clear continually.

Set — hit Set, then input the fill amount.

Start — begins the pour.

Fill Chart

(Post this chart next to the machine.)

10 mL = 12.5 g

20 mL = 24 g

50 mL = 62 g

100 mL = 124 g

Test Pour

Place a medium or smaller flask under the nozzle

Hit Start and pump one or two

Do NOT move the flask or bottle until it is done and beeps

Confirm the right amount of Shilajit is being pumped out

Adjust as needed

Once the amount is correct, move to filling tincture bottles

Station Setup

Materials Needed:

Post-wobbled flask

Small graduated flask (for measuring)

Larger wide-mouth flask (for distilled water)

Tincture bottles

Pump-top lids (with straws)

Alcohol spray + lint-free cloths

Preparing Bottles & Lids

Place silicone mats under work area (prevents slipping)

Wipe down:

Outside of bins

Bottles

Place under flow hood

Pump Tops:

Add to smaller bin, spray generously with alcohol

Allow to air dry for 30 seconds

Pre-Check (Quality Control)

Before filling, inspect all bottles for:

Cracks

Chips

Cuts

Unusual discoloration

Note:

Light "marbling" from autoclave = OK

Anything questionable → set aside for QA

Do NOT fill compromised bottles

Filling Process

1. Place the bottle on the base plate underneath the nozzle.

2. Hit Start.

3. Do NOT move the bottle until it is done and beeps.

4. Insert:

Pump top

Straw

5. Screw lid:

Firm hand-tight

Not overly tight

If you hear cracking → discard to QA

6. Hit Clear to zero everything out, place the next bottle, and hit Start again.

Troubleshooting — Runaway Pump

Every now and then the machine decides to go a little haywire and keeps pumping out tincture.

To stop it:

Hit Clear, or turn the machine off

Get a rag and wipe off the excess Shilajit

Do NOT try to save it

Sanitize the base plate again

Continue on until you are done pumping all your tincture

Finishing the Batch

The filter on the end of the hose will not get all of the Shilajit out of the tincture.

When you've got as much through the machine as you can:

Pour the rest of the tincture into a smaller flask

Manually fill the remaining bottles with what's left

You won't be able to get everything — get as much as you can

Post-Filling

Place finished bottles into bins.

Labeling Bins

Use tape and clearly write:

Size (e.g., 50 mL)

Batch number

Date

Initials

Example:

50 mL – Batch 9 – 4/20/26 – CD

Transfer to Shipping

Bring all bins to:

Shipping Room

Place on "To-Do" table

General Cleaning

After jars or tinctures:

Clean all tools:

Scales

Flasks

Pipettes

Any utensils

Method:

Warm water + soap

Rinse thoroughly

Drying:

Place on drying racks (left/right of sink)

Weight Filling Machine Cleaning (Critical)

When you are done pumping:

1. Put the flasks in the sink. Wash them out with soapy water and scrub down so there is no residue on the inside. Let them air dry.

2. Same with the hose, base plate, and other components of the weight filling machine.

3. Run hot water through the hose and the nozzle components to make sure you dissolve and remove all Shilajit.

4. Allow all components to air dry.

Storage:

Return clean equipment under flow hood

Preparation

Remove inner pot

Fill with distilled water to fill line

Replace pot

Tray Setup

Insert bottom tray (with legs)

Load items:

Jars & bottles:

Face up or on side

Maintain airflow between items

Layering:

Place tray between each layer

Stack as high as possible while maintaining airflow

Special Items

Large and smaller flasks can go in without trays, on their sides.

Closing Autoclave

Insert internal metal tube into designated slot

Place lid on (use two hands)

Rotate right to lock hooks (make sure lid is on evenly)

Hand-tighten evenly

Important:

Ensure steam valve ("doohickey") is upright (open)

Heating Process

Turn dial to 10 (maximum)

Wait until:

Unit heats up

Steam begins releasing

Pressure Regulation

Once steaming for 7-10 minutes:

Lower steam valve (close it with towel to not burn yourself)

Reduce heat to:

Between 3-4

Goal:

Maintain pressure in green zone

Avoid red zone (too high) or too low (if not in green after 35 min raise to 5 but keep an eye on it)

Sterilization Timing

Once in green zone:

Set timer for 35 minutes

Depressurization

After 35 minutes:

Turn off unit

Push the steam valve over (release pressure)

Use cloths/rags to avoid burns

Wait until pressure returns to zero

Unloading

Unscrew lid (use towels to protect from hot lid)

Carefully open lid (hot surfaces!)

Remove inner bucket:

Use cloths or silicone gloves

Transfer to flow hood area

Drying Process

Sanitize work surface (alcohol, 30 sec dry)

Remove jars carefully

Important:

While jars are still warm, place jars upside down first

Shake out any water inside

Then place upright to dry under flow hood

Space them out for airflow

Avoid stacking until fully dry

Drying Time Guidelines

Ideal: allow to dry thoroughly under hood

Can sit:

Overnight if needed

Important Limits:

Do NOT leave unbinned beyond 2 hours (ideal max)

Absolute max: 24 hours

Binning & Labeling (Post-Sterilization)

Once dry:

Place jars into clean bins

Label each bin with:

Jar size

"Sanitized"

Date

Initials

Storage in Cabinets

Store labeled bins in cabinets

Best Practice:

Each time you access cabinets:

Spray interior lightly with alcohol

Wipe with clean rag

Helps prevent dust + contamination buildup

Washing Equipment

Items to clean:

Silicone mats

Gloves (if reusable)

Rags

Flasks

Any Shilajit-contact tools

Sink Safety

Use warm water

Sink can get very hot → avoid burns

Cleaning Silicone Mats & Tools

Wash with:

Warm water + required soap

Rinse thoroughly (no soap residue)

Place on drying rack:

Leave space for airflow

Cleaning Flasks (Deep Clean Method)

Step 1: Pre-Rinse

Fill with hot water

Let sit briefly to loosen residue

Repeat rinse as needed

Step 2: Soap Wash

Add small amount of soapy water

Use large scrub brush:

Pre-rinse brush before use

Scrub interior thoroughly (1–2 minutes)

Step 3: Final Rinse

Rinse multiple times with hot water

Ensure all soap is removed

Drying Flasks Properly

Place on drying rack strategically:

Bottom elevated

Opening angled downward

Ensures full drainage (no trapped water)

Surface Cleaning (Two-Step Method)

Distilled Water Clean

Use spray bottle with distilled water

Wipe all surfaces with lint-free rag

Important:

Shilajit does NOT clean well with alcohol alone

Water must be used first

Alcohol Sanitation

After surfaces are dry:

Spray rubbing alcohol

Wipe thoroughly

Detailed Cleaning Areas

All counters

Equipment surfaces

Under flow hood

Inside hood ceiling/walls (Shilajit can splatter upward)

Clean all visible residue

Final Reset

Return all supplies to proper locations:

Spray bottles

Tools

Materials

Dispose of:

Nitrile gloves

Take out trash if full

Floor Cleaning

Daily requirement:

Sweep (if debris present)

Mop using:

Warm water

Small amount of white vinegar

Natural + effective cleaning

Before leaving:

Remove:

Lab coat

Hairnet

Gloves (dispose)

Return to locker:

Change back into personal items

Ensure:

Lab is clean

All processes are complete

Upon entering the assembly room:

Check the whiteboard:

Review to-do list

Note priorities

Check in with team:

Confirm urgent tasks

Clarify workflow for the day

Retrieve Work from "To-Do" Area

Go to the "To-Do" counter (south wall)

Locate bins from lab:

Jars

Tinctures

Initial Quality Control (QC Check)

Before starting any assembly:

Remove items from bin

Place on clean work surface

Inspect for:

Broken glass

Leaks

Loose lids

Missing caps

General cleanliness

Any failed items:

Place in QA bin (separate)

Choose Workstation

Select a clean, open surface

Gather materials before beginning:

Water spray bottle

Alcohol spray bottle

Clean cloth

Pull jars from bin → wipe off with water/alcohol cloth

Apply black rubber bands over seam of jar to seal

Use fingers for placement

Check pliability and seal

Pull shrink wrap → place cutie in middle → wrap around top/bottom

Use hairdryer (high setting, 6–12 in away) to shrink wrap smoothly

Minor bubbles OK, big tears → redo

Half of jars → Stock Bin

Other half → Assemble 12-pack kits:

Heat seal bags (6–8 in) → fill with 12 jars (2 rows of 6)

Add labels: "Open within 90 days"

Place in QA for Stock

Setup & Initial QA

Retrieve Materials

Take bin from To-Do area

Choose a clean, comfortable workstation

Quick Quality Control Check

As you lay jars out:

Ensure lids are tight

Every 5–10 jars:

Open lid

Confirm:

Lid liner is present

No leakage

Also check for:

Cracks

Broken glass

Smudges/discoloration

Any issues:

Set aside in QA bin

Lid Stickering

Materials

Pick out the sticker that matches the jar and batch

Located at west wall counter (sticker bins)

Application Method

Place sticker as close to centered on lid as possible

Use thumb or fingernail to:

Smooth edges

Remove air bubbles

Quality Standard

Centered

Smooth (no bubbles)

Clean print

Pull aside crooked (going over the edge) / unclear / damaged — set aside for QA or redo

Shrink Wrapping

Materials

Select appropriate size shrink wrap (pick from tool tray on north wall)

Heat gun / hair dryer

Setup Tip

Pull tray close while working

Move tray away before heating

Caution — heat can shrink unused wrap from a distance so move it out of the way

Application Method

Hold jar at base

Slide shrink wrap over top

Gently wiggle down into place

Do NOT force if it's tight, it can rip

Center wrap:

Slight overlap on top and bottom edges, or center it if it's smaller than the jar

Heating Process

Use high setting if confident, low setting for delicate shrink

Keep approx 6–12 inches distance

Use a gentle waving motion and rotate jar

Technique

Batch process first (put wrap on multiple jars)

Then heat:

Whole batch lightly

Then each jar individually:

Back

Top

Quality Standard

Smooth

Snug fit

No major tears

Post-Shrink Sorting

Split finished jars into two groups:

Group A: Barcoded Stock

Requirements:

Stickered

Shrink wrapped

Barcode applied (bottom of jar)

Barcode Notes

Located in barcode tray (tool area)

If empty:

Move tray to top of cabinet (signal restock)

Notify David if we are out or getting low

Bin Labeling

Label bin with:

Size of jars (i.e. 5g) – Barcoded

Batch

Date

Initials

Place in QA for Stock

Group B: Kits

Proceed to kit assembly

Notes by Size

5g — full workflow, then Apprentice Kits

20g — full workflow, then Sage Kits

30g — full workflow, then Wizard Kits

120g — QC → sticker → shrink wrap → barcode. No kits. Bin → QA

120g stickers are made using the Cricut. If missing, notify David / the team

Materials Needed

5g jar

Apprentice tag

Small bag

Small spoon

2 different info cards

Assembly Layout (Critical for Presentation)

Correct Order:

Jar (face up)

Two info cards → placed on top of jar

Spoon → placed next to jar (preferred)

Important Orientation

Bottom of jar → faces front

Cards → face back

This ensures:

Kit stands upright

Clean presentation

Bagging Process

Slide full set into bag:

Keep structure intact

Cinch top lightly

Batch tip:

Line up multiple kits before tagging

Tag Application

Preparation

Punch out holes if needed

Fold tag properly

Check for defects:

Misaligned print

Tears

Crooked cuts

Set bad tags aside (QA)

Attaching Tag

Slightly scrunch bag top

Slide through tag hole

Adjust so:

Spoon is visible and upright

Everything looks neat

Final Quality Check

Each kit should:

Stand upright on its own

Contain:

Jar

Spoon

2 cards

Tag

Binning

Place ~24–30 kits per bin

Label bin appropriately

Move to QA area for review

Materials Needed

20g jar (stickered + shrink-wrapped)

2 different info cards

Small spoon

Large bag

Sage kit tag

Assembly Layout

Correct Arrangement:

Jar (base forward)

2 cards → behind jar

Spoon → placed on side (preferred)

Important Positioning

Spoon:

Ideally on side, sometimes visible at top

Cards:

Behind jar

Ensures:

Clean presentation

Bag stands upright

Bagging Process

Place all components neatly inside bag

Adjust contents:

Balanced

Even

Tag Application

Fold tag properly

Punch out holes if needed

Attach:

Slightly cinch bag top

Insert through tag

Final QA Check

Ensure:

Kit stands upright

Contents are correct

Presentation is clean

Binning

Place in bin

Label:

Sage Kits

Batch

Date

Initials

Move to QA area

Materials Needed

30g jar (stickered + shrink-wrapped)

2 different info cards

Large spoon

Large bag

Wizard kit tag

Assembly Layout

Correct Arrangement:

Jar (base forward)

2 cards → behind jar

Spoon → placed on side (fits around jar)

Important Positioning

Spoon:

Ideally wrapped around on the side

Cards:

Behind jar

Ensures:

Clean presentation

Bag stands upright

Bagging Process

Place all components neatly inside bag

Adjust contents:

Balanced

Even

Tag Application

Fold tag properly

Punch out holes if needed

Attach:

Slightly cinch bag top

Insert through tag

Final QA Check

Ensure:

Kit stands upright

Contents are correct

Presentation is clean

Binning

Place in bin

Label:

Wizard Kits

Batch

Date

Initials

Move to QA area

Initial QA

Pull bottles out onto a clean surface

Check each bottle for:

Cracks in glass

Pump top in place

Leakage

Discoloration or any other defects

Defective bottles → QA bin

Labeling (Side Label)

Options:

By hand (10 mL)

Using labeling machine (20s, 50s, 100s)

Machine Setup (If Used)

Load label roll correctly:

Feed from underneath

Ensure:

Machine plugged in

Foot pedal ready

Safety:

Do NOT adjust machine while powered on

Risk of finger injury

Application

Place bottle on rollers

Press foot pedal

If labels misalign:

Apply by hand:

Centered

Straight

Clean

Top QR Code Sticker (10 mL only)

Apply to top of bottle

Source:

Cricut-made stickers or ordered

If out of stock:

Move tray to visible area

Notify David

Placement Standard

Centered

Straight

Legible

Shrink Wrapping (Individual Bottles)

Application

Make sure excess shrink wrap is away from heat gun

Heat at a distance of 6-12 inches approx

Shrink evenly by waving dryer back and forth

10 mL Bottles

Shrink wrap should be exact bottle height

Sits just slightly above the bottom of the label

Use high heat setting

Smooth with hand carefully (it's hot!)

20 mL Bottles

Shrink wrap slightly shorter than full bottle height

Sit 1 thumbnail above top of cap

Use high heat setting

Smooth carefully

50 mL & 100 mL Bottles

Follow same process as 20 mL

Adjust shrink wrap size to fit bottle

Use high heat setting

Smooth carefully

Important:

Make sure you match the correct bottle size to shrink wrap, let David know if we're getting low or out (look in the shrink misc bin first)

Shrink wrap must be fairly neat and centered

Tip — line up bottles and put multiple shrink wraps on before heating

Key Notes / Tips

Shrink wrap finesse is required — too close with heat → tears

Bottles can get hot when smoothing → handle carefully

Always double-check bin labeling before moving to QA

Maintain a neat layout to prevent knocking bottles over

Multi-Pack Assembly

After individual shrink wrap you will take bottles (minus 1 or 2 bins to keep loose) and make packs of them.

Setup

Use larger shrink wrap for each pack

Confirm pack size:

10 mL = 5 pack

20 mL = 3 pack

50 mL = 3 & 2 pack

100 mL = 2 pack

Process

Group bottles together

Wrap collectively, making sure they are aligned and neat

Heating

Use low heat setting

Prevent:

Bubbling

Tearing

Quality Standard

Neat

Secure

Minimal tearing

Redo if heavily damaged

Final Binning

Place packs into bin

Label:

Bottle size (i.e. 10 mL)

Pack type (loose, or 2, 3 or 5-pack)

Batch

Date

Initials

Move to QA for Stock

Make 2-tier or 3-tier display

Look at previously created and completed example to use as a guide

Lay out laser cut pieces

Glue magnets on first (make sure it aligns by using the example)

Use scotch tape to hold in place

Note: when gluing together make sure the nicer side is on top or facing out.

2 Tier parts

1 back

2 floors (one smaller than the other)

2 sides

1 front top (thinner)

1 front bottom (wider, has beLoved text)

Jar holder insert

2 long sides

2 short sides

1 top with 3 cut outs for jars

1 pack of price tags

1 Topper

3 Tier parts

1 back

3 floors (one small, med and large)

2 sides

2 front for top & middle (thinner)

1 front bottom (wider, has beLoved text)

2 Jar holder inserts (one med one large)

2 long sides

2 short sides

1 top with 3 cut outs for jars (20g and 30g)

1 Topper

Assembly

After gluing magnets and letting dry, use scotch tape or rubber bands to hold the parts in place.

Glue underneath the display (the area just below the lowest floor) by squeezing a bead of glue up the corners and around the edge of the bottom of the floor. Ideally we want there to be enough glue to hold it in place but less on surfaces more seen by a customer, so aim to glue the underside of floors and every edge connecting from the inside. If there's too much glue take a damp rag and wipe away excess. Cut off drips when they are dry to clean up more.

Once dry remove tape and place finished display on top of lockers.

Before finishing for the day:

Clean up stations by throwing trash out, putting paper products into recycling (designate a box if there isn't one)

Put supplies and bins away

Wipe down surfaces if messy

Clean floor

Log work day (system is in process via iPads)

Update David via text if anything needs restocking or updating on

Make sure lights, heaters, and speakers are off when last one leaving

Close doors and turn lights off in hallway

Take out trash and recycling if it's full (dumpsters are at the far end of the parking lot). You can stack piles up on the wheel cart that lives in the hall.

(IN PROGRESS — packing orders for customers. More to come.)

Use an ample amount of bubble wrap and/or packing peanuts or packing pillows.

Pack snug and tight:

Not crushing anything

Plenty of padding on all sides

Keep the product mainly in the middle of the box

Do NOT overfill boxes

Note:

Sometimes it's easier to bubble wrap the 100 mL bottles and put them in a bigger box, rather than trying to separate them out into smaller boxes.

Rules of Thumb

Try to be neat

Fold things in tightly

Use the scissors so the tape looks neat

We want things to be tidy and to look cozy when they arrive to the customer.

Jars

Place as many jars as will fit on their side

Roll up

Tape down

Tape down the outsides

Sheet size: TBD — confirm half sheet or full sheet

Tinctures (20 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL)

Group packs of two, three, or five together

Wrap in bubble wrap

Tape down all three sides

10 mL

Stack two or three high

Wrap in half a sheet of bubble wrap

Tape all three sides

Kits

Place a sheet of bubble wrap on the bottom of one of the smaller boxes

Fit as many kits in as will fit

Example: six Apprentice kits fit the width of a 6x9x4 box

Keep them neat

Don't crush them, but make sure things are snug

Box Selection

If an order is too big for one of the smaller boxes but doesn't feel like it needs one of the bigger boxes, try combining two smaller boxes together.

Prep — Shipping Area

Rip off individual sheets of bubble wrap

Stack them 10 or 20 high

The same sheets can be cut in half to make smaller sheets:

For 10 mL bottles or 3–5 jars

So you don't need an entire big sheet to pack those together

Running the Machine

1. Turn it on.

2. Hit the Select button to go through the different options.

3. Select the preset that matches the side of the box you're taping.

Presets

A (150) — 6-inch side of a box

B (280) — 9-inch side of a box

C (360) — 9-inch side of a box (alternate)

D (420) — 13.75-inch side of the larger box

E (600) — 20-inch side of a box

F — smaller pieces: attaching shrink wrap, adhering it, holding it down

Use F when putting jars and tincture bottles together.

Troubleshooting — Jams

If the tape gets jammed:

Use the Reverse or Forward buttons to move the tape along

Loading a New Roll

When the tape runs out, pop in a new roll

Be careful how you feed it

Use the Forward and Reverse buttons to slowly feed it through

Always keep workspace tidy

Be careful with heat guns & hairdryers → burns possible

QC is critical → never skip

Bin labels must be accurate

Keep shrink wrap and stickers organized

Notify supervisor if supplies run low (stickers, shrink wrap, barcodes)