By Debbie Nicholson, Think-to-INK!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-nicholson-24a53627/
Question: Is getting ‘cut short’ self-imposed?
Answer: Absolutely!
The DISADVANTAGE of shortcuts is they create risk; here are a few risks to consider:
- Discounting projects new (to the company) without experience or history as a price guide
- The unknown is costly and may not be recouped.
- The unknown is costly and may not be recouped.
- Purchasing inferior materials to meet budget demands
- Inferior materials open the door to ineffective ink adhesion, cutting, and finishing problems
- Inferior materials open the door to ineffective ink adhesion, cutting, and finishing problems
- Underestimating employee and manufacturing time
- Shortcuts could add enormous hours of overtime and rush shipping expenses
- Shortcuts could add enormous hours of overtime and rush shipping expenses
- Inconsistent processes for securing live pricing from distribution channels
- This is no shortcut you should take – live pricing is not negotiable
- This is no shortcut you should take – live pricing is not negotiable
- Foregoing detailed pre-project production meeting(s) to save time
- Huge mistake – this will cost you in ways you can’t imagine!
- Huge mistake – this will cost you in ways you can’t imagine!
- Knowingly accepting tight deadlines that are not achievable
- This deserves a serious conversation with your client (including overtime expenses)
- This deserves a serious conversation with your client (including overtime expenses)
- Disregarding strict Quality Assurance guidelines to move the project forward
- You think this project is costly now – just wait!
- You think this project is costly now – just wait!
- Inattention to Customer Change Orders by not securing updated POs
- Customer POs with up-to-date Change Orders avoid confrontation and payment delays!
- Customer POs with up-to-date Change Orders avoid confrontation and payment delays!
- Accounting for rushed goods shipping expenses
- Avoid this problem by having a detailed pre-project production meeting
- Avoid this problem by having a detailed pre-project production meeting
- 11th-hour need for temporary employees for finishing, kitting, packaging, and shipping
- Always assume the worst; equipment down, employees call out…
- Always assume the worst; equipment down, employees call out…
- Live-wire cross-training to enhance manufacturing
- Look, crunch time is not the way to learn – cross-training is a pre-determined commitment
- Look, crunch time is not the way to learn – cross-training is a pre-determined commitment
- The job jacket lacks critical billing information – everyone was too busy!
- Last but not least – remember cash is KING – don’t mess this one up!
- Last but not least – remember cash is KING – don’t mess this one up!
In Closing:
When we take shortcuts, we tend to get careless and emphasize efficiency more than quality. Is it worth the risk to take a shortcut when applying best practices for our printing industry?
As a thought: The lack of understanding can be a catalyst for many shortcuts. Frequently, this results from insufficient training that didn’t fully assure our employees understood the content. As a result, employees may believe they’ve discovered a shortcut that in actuality, could be detrimental. For example, simply telling our production staff what quality - is - may not be adequate; a visual introduction with a walk-down quality lane may be necessary to help them understand the company’s expectations and standards.
Shortcuts can be both a blessing and a curse depending on how and why we approach them; following business instincts is always best!
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