Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 22 April
There’s a gaggle of letters this week; from well wishes for Lindsay Somerville, Kwik Kopy, Ringwood and Prografica, through to some thoughts on James Cryer’s latest commentary.
Re: The winds of change: 15 April 2009
I’ve dealt with Lindsay on and off over about 13 years. He’s one of the sadly vanishing breed of book print buyers who nurture and value their relationship with printers.
Lindsay enjoyed driving a hard bargain, but he was experienced enough to realise that the unit price was only one factor in the selection of a printer. And he was a faithful supporter of those printers who always got the quality, quantity and delivery right as well. Some of them were in Hong Kong, China and Singapore. But not all were proof that Australian book printers still retain some competitive advantage.
Mark Reid
Lindsay Somerville is one of nature's gentlemen and I wish him well in retirement.
Simon Lane
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Re: Kwik Kopy Ringwood wins Franchise of the Year
Congratulations to Lou and his team at Ringwood Kwik Kopy.
Don't agree with his statement: "I would not like to be an independent in these trying times.” Well, we are an independent and each year is better than the last.
Regarding your article ‘Merging to Survive’ by Richard Rasmussen: we as a independent print business are in the group of 1 of 4 types of printers so congratulations to my team.
Not all independents are struggling just like not all franchises are making money.
Name Withheld
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Re: Prografica powers up with FBA Deloittes Award
Wow, very good! Bravo from Italy.
Walter Ocule
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Re: Shades of grey over colour standards: James Cryer’s commentary
It is interesting to note that the debate is getting underway in Australia. The FOGRA and UGRA certifications are also offered here through businesses selling colour management solutions. However, it has to be remembered that these are commercial certifications and not independent certification so it is difficult to see what real value they have for printers as the commercial provider is unlikely to issue a non compliance order to his customer who is using software and hardware that he has supplied.
It is expected that within this year the certifying body in the UK for all forms of independent certification, UKAS, will release ISO 12647. It will be added to the quality standard which is already well established here, ISO 9001 which many print businesses have already. The joint standard will then be ISO9001/12647. When the renewal comes up, there will be a saving as there will be only one audit and not two. The fact that it is independent of any commercial interest is vital and that point is not lost on print buyers in the UK and I am sure this will be the case in Australia as well.
I have done a lot of work with printers in this area in the last 18 months, setting out route maps that will lead to successful certification when UKAS release the standard. It generally involves streamlining procedures, documenting actions and using work processes together with training that benefit the business and in most cases there is not very much to be spent in terms of capital expenditure. Customer satisfaction is the key requirement of 9001, and a printer does not have to offer 12647 to every customer that he serves. It can be offered selectively to those who want it, and are prepared to pay a higher price for the quality assurance that it brings.
Malcolm McReath