The Big Picture - June/July 2014 - (Page F5)

FOCUS 2014: Dispatches from the Industry Welcome to the 2014 edition of FOCUS, our annual look at the most critical issues facing print service providers in the year ahead. We invited this issue's display advertisers, as well as some select industry organizations and consultants, to address the following seven topics that challenge the wide-format printing marketplace. The industry issues chosen reflect feedback we've received from our readers over the past 12 months as well as at industry tradeshows and events in that same time frame. This year's FOCUS issues include: Be green - sustainability and the environment: With many print-buying clients and larger brand names focusing on sustainability, it behooves the savvy print service provider to establish and maintain its green practices and product roster. Which practices should be integrated? How critical is certification, and with what organizations? Should a separate pricing structure be established for sustainable products? Which non-print initiatives - recycling, energy conservation, etc. - should a print provider consider? Can certain tools, products, and supplies make a difference when it comes to producing and marketing green output - and how can they do so? Maximizing output volume and production efficiencies: For most print operations, profitability can be directly tied to an ample amount of print work that's efficiently produced. To ensure that their output is voluminous and their throughput seamless, shops typically pursue a range of solutions, including high-end print hardware, a mix of print technologies, sophisticated software and workflow systems, and more. What are some of the specific steps shops can take to boost their volume of output? What mix of technologies is available to print providers? Are there output solutions and production efficiencies to be had today that didn't exist just a few years ago? How does shop-floor production space play a role here? Cutting edge - integrating new technologies: We all grow comfortable with the technology that we're used to. But while that technology may have once topped the charts, it might now be considered the elder generation of its kind - and new, younger technologies are available that are faster, more productive, more consistent, and will simply help a shop do a better job. How does a shop go about inventorying its current technologies and then looking for replacements? What are the pros and cons of retaining and replacing technologies? Do all new technologies require extensive training? Which technologies are the easiest to integrate (and the most difficult), and why? Fine-tuning throughput - color management and workflow: Getting a shop's production floor in color sync is no easy mission. And workflow in general can prove to be a daunting task for any print provider. A failure to ensure consistent color or to establish a glitch-free, file-to-output workflow can result in a bogged-down production that slows up the entire operation, costly do-overs, and, eventually, loss of business. What systems and technologies are available to help print providers tackle these challenges? Even if a shop's workflow seems to be getting the job done, are there new options that they can take advantage of? Is a RIP just a RIP? Is JDF here to stay? And what does the future hold for print providers when it comes to color management and workflow? Pursuing innovative applications: Discovering the region's fastest-growing application(s) can help put a print shop over the top when it comes to the bottom line. By establishing itself as the preeminent provider in niches such as point-of-purchase, vehicle wraps, floor graph- ics, and textile graphics, the shop sets itself apart from its competitors. What are some of the specific "hot" applications, jobs, and products that print service providers should be considering right now? What are the opportunities - and challenges - these particular applications pose? And are there profit centers beyond pure print work that print shops should be considering - such as: post-print services (laminating, sewing/seaming, die-cutting), fulfillment/kitting/warehousing, displays, electronic digital displays, etc? What technologies, equipment, and products can play a role in a shop pursuing any of these suggested applications? The benefits of shop training and education: As the tools shops utilize in their output, workflow, and finishing departments move and shift, their employees need to be able to keep up. If not, as the years progress, the shop will likely see downgrades in proficiency, efficiency, and profitability. Further, shops can take the initiative and seek to have a better educated and trained staff - the result will be a revitalized company that's ready to move to the next level. But what type of training options should shops pursue - onsite, classes offsite, long-distance learning? And are there particular subjects or topics that print providers should be focusing on? 21st-century workforce - employee hiring and retention: With the economy bouncing back in recent months, many print providers are now encountering a challenge they haven't had to face for a while: hiring new quality employees; replacing employees; and integrating new programs to ensure their good employees stay put. What type of perks best entice new employees? How does a shop go about retaining its best staffers? And as shops pursue new applications and markets, are there new types of employees that might enter into their staffing mix? www.bigpicture.net 5 http://www.bigpicture.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Big Picture - June/July 2014

The Big Picture - June/July 2014
Contents
InSight
Wide Angle
Up Front
Graphics on the Go
Flavorful Interiors
Step-by-Step: Deer Caught in the Spotlight
Stay Sharp with Cutters and Routers
R+D
Explorer

The Big Picture - June/July 2014

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