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?
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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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