Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting non-conforming cigarette packages during the actual fabrication process. A digital camera is placed in close proximity to the blank feeding and folding turret area of a cigarette packaging machine assembly. Prior to the cigarette package being completely formed, the camera captures a digital image of three sections of the pack blank, namely the dust flaps and the inside front face. The camera is used to visually inspect the pack blank for mis-folded or partially or completely missing dust flaps and a reversed pack blank. The captured image is transferred to a processor which compares the pixel value of the three sections of the pack blank to a predetermined pixel value.