A mathematical model has been developed for optimising cigarette physical quality for fluctuations in filling power and the control system of the cigarette making machine. Practical results are presented which demonstrate the differences in filling power obtained with various types of tobacco. This is followed by an analysis of the influence of filling power on cigarette quality, using regression equations. On the basis of these analyses, the mathematical model has been developed in order to calculate the cigarette weights which produce the smallest possible changes in cigarette quality data for fluctuations in filling power. These considerations result in a control system for the cigarette maker which takes the tobacco filling power into account and controls the cigarette weights so that cigarette quality data is optimised for fluctuations in filling power.