What a workflow assessment can do for your business

When I talk with printers about operational challenges, most say that they would like to spend 75 percent of a hypothetical budget on improving efficiency — speeding workflow and shredding redundancy. Such trouble spots bubble to the surface during a skilled assessment in which you should be able to spot:

• Manual operations that can be better handled by automation

• Pieces that should be tied together to improve the movement of paper through the presses

• Outdated technology that should be replaced or upgraded

• Financial controls that should be tightened to present a true view of the costs of facilities, salary, and equipment in order to price jobs accurately.  

A good assessment can also reveal parts of your business that could be expanded by additional services, especially in the area of color management, substrates, and even campaign management.

An experienced partner should also clue you into what other shops are doing down the road and across the country. What once was a stable industry has experienced a sea wave of change. Your business must stay agile to ensure customer loyalty and growth.

[1] Source: "U.S. Production Software Investment Outlook 2016." InfoTrends.com. March 2016. http://store.infotrendsresearch.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=150458