“Sharpening the Saw” – Staying
Fresh in the Field of Formulation
Science
Jeff Seidling, Scott Wenzel
November 8, 2011
Agenda
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Introduction
K-C Formulation Science Team
The Problem
The Solution
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Explore
Talk
Learn – Study
Learn – Do
Teach
• Summary
Who am I?
• Associate’s Degree in Business
• B.S. in Microbiology, Chemistry Minor
• Cosmetic Chemist for 6 years – all with
Kimberly-Clark
• Husband and Father
• Brew beer, remodel our house and play guitar
in my spare time
Who is Scott?
• B.S. in Biology, Chemistry Minor
• Cosmetic Chemist for 16 years
• Member of SCC since 1995
– 3 Chapters, various positions
• Husband and Father
• Hunt, fish, sports, chase my kids and wife
around
K-C Formulation Science
• Large group of formulators in various
locations
• Backgrounds vary
– Degrees, years of education
– Industry experience (0-16 years)
K-C Formulation Science
• All at maximum capacity -> working on 1-6
projects at a time
• Experts tend be utilized exclusively for
extended periods of time (i.e. wipes)
The problem
• Companies have limited resources (people,
money)
• People have limited time to:
– Explore – chemistry, approach
– Talk to each other and learn from experience
– Learn by Studying
– Learn by Doing
– Teach
EXPLORE - “Blue Sky” Friday
• One day blocked off a month on everyone’s
calendars
• Formulators are encouraged to make new-tothe-world or new-to-them formulations
• Formulations are captured in a master file
• Pizza is provided for lunch by the corporation
for participation
TALK - Formulation Meeting
• Happens during “Blue Sky” Friday
• During meetings we discuss a topic relevant to
the group
– Project brainstorming
– Technical hurdles
– Upcoming projects, interest areas
– Etc.
LEARN: STUDY - Paper Exercises
• Occur during formulation meetings
• Layout:
– Teams of 2
– Provided common ingredients, marketing copy,
claims from a commercial product
– Best guess of the INCI Declaration based on claims
– Each team shares their answers/thinking
– Actual INCI label is then shared with the team
– Discuss answers vs. actual
LEARN: STUDY – Competitive Analysis
• Competitive Shopping Trips
– At least 2X/year
• Discovery of:
– New ingredients
– New claims
– Trends
– Who’s doing what
LEARN: DO – “Tear-Down” Week
• Occur bi-monthly to quarterly (4-6/year)
• Layout:
– Random draw of teams (2-3 formulators/team) on
Monday
• At least 1 senior formulator paired with junior formulator
– INCI Declaration, % solids, and commercial product
sample provided
– Teams prototype as they have time through the week
– Teams talk through learning, issues, results,
conclusions
LEARN: DO – “Tear-Down” Week
• Impartial judging on Friday (COA, pH, viscosity,
match ingredient declaration, aesthetics,
performance)
• Teams talk through learning, issues, results,
conclusions
• Trophies awarded to the winning team
Formulation Science Competitive Formulation Tear-Down
(DATE)
Hello Formulators! Today’s mission… if you choose to accept it…
is to replicate XXXXXXXXXX.
We will provide you with some information in order to assist you,
but the rest will be up to you and your team.
A few ground rules:
1) Participation is completely voluntary, if you do not wish to participate say
so before teams are chosen
2) This is a team-based event. At the end of the day, your team will be judged
on the quality of your single best formulation. Please plan ahead and
communicate frequently.
3) Please be reasonable with the size of your batches, resources are limited
and we want to be able to have everyone participate. Try and keep the
prototype sizes small: max 300g.
4) There is a hard stop at 3:00pm. Be prepared at 3:00pm to share your best
prototype with the team. There are no correct or wrong answers, this is all
to improve our skills and make us a stronger formulation resource as a
whole. That being said, there will be a trophy for the team that provides
the closest approximation to the commercial sample ().
INCI DECK: XXXX,YYYY,ZZZZ
Approximate solids content: XX%
Good luck!
TEACH: Formulation Course
• Occurs once every two years
• Layout:
– 2 days of instruction (technical and non-technical
K-C employees)
– Formulators volunteer to teach based on
expertise/desire
– Raw material classes, formulation types, claims,
timing for development
TEACH: Formulation Course
– Modules and demonstrations
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Make your own cleanser
Make your own emulsion
Surfactants
Emulsions and emulsifiers
Preservatives
Skin Biology
Product Safety/Regulatory
Etc.
Results
• Keep innovation pipeline fresh by setting aside
one day a month to get in the lab (Blue Sky
Fridays)
• Encourage teamwork and communication
through formulation meetings
• Correlate chemistry and function through
paper exercises and shopping trips
Results
• Expand formulating knowledge and foster
healthy competition through Tear-Down Days
• Build credibility and obtain/polish
presentation skills by teaching the formulation
course
• Have FUN!
Questions?
• (Remember you only have 15 seconds )
Questions?
• (OK…I’ll give you another 15 seconds)