Business Management - Productivity/Process Improvement

Rex Three's customers benefitted from exceptional service and faster turn times on projects due to its istallation of LithoTechnics Metrix software.

WHEN WALSWORTH Publishing set out to find software that would modernize its system and increase the consistency of its printing processes—without eating into its bottom line—little did it know that it was in line for a bonus. Not only did the system the company choose achieve efficiencies throughout its commercial printing runs, from sheetfed to webfed to digital, it was also the basis for integrating and updating the entire enterprise.

WHEN WALSWORTH Publishing set out to find software that would modernize its system and increase the consistency of its printing processes—without eating into its bottom line—little did it know that it was in line for a bonus.Not only did the system the company choose achieve efficiencies throughout its commercial printing runs, from sheetfed to webfed to digital, it was also the basis for integrating and updating the entire enterprise.

Waste is everywhere at your in-plant, impeding your quest for efficiency. Lean manufacturing can help 
you eliminate that waste, improve your productivity and stay alive in these 
tough economic times.

LOUISVILLE, CO—Nearly 400 diplomas from a high school here will need to be reprinted after an observant parent noted one tiny flaw: The city's name was listed as Lafayette, CO. The error was spotted following the graduation ceremony. The Associated Press reported that the unnamed printer is footing the bill for the rerun of 395 diplomas.

CAROL STREAM, IL—Booklet Binding and Team Services announced the opening of its new production center here. The new facility unites the operations of its two prior locations—Booklet Binding's Broadview, IL, bindery and finishing operation and Team Services' Itasca, IL, data, direct mail production, mailing and expanded packaging operations—into a single plant.The 366,000-square-foot integrated production facility required a capital investment of $21 million.

HAMILTON, BERMUDA—Business-to-consumer online printing specialist VistaPrint and FedEx Office have developed a new application for designing, ordering and printing business stationery and marketing materials. Customers will be able to design and order their customized products online at fedexoffice.com or in-person at any of the 1,600 FedEx Office Print & Ship Centers in the United States.

To eliminate production inefficiencies, Aflac's printing subsidiary, Communicorp, restructured its customer service methodology and installed the latest high-speed equipment.

Make sure your heaters are on only when you need them.

When you think of waste, what comes to mind? Many printers don't think beyond paper—makeready, roll slab, roll damage, running waste and so on. But in the bigger picture, waste encompasses time and material expenses that consume resources without adding value. As we'll see, if you want to minimize waste, you must embrace Process Excellence.

If you're not adding value, you are creating waste. Printers add value when their processes change or convert the form, fit, and/or function (print, cut, fold, collate, stitch, etc.) of materials and items into the final product.