machine to look for materials? You
can see if they are setting up their
workflow correctly.”
Marks adds, “Ultimately, we provide
the ability to see where the time is lost
and where lean manufacturing can be
achieved over a 24-hour period.”
Operational Shifts
While many productivity gains can be
made through workfl ow automation,
PSPs need to understand how these
tools will impact them organizationally.
“Workfl ow automation is not about
adding another tool to their toolbox,”
said Young. “You need to do a process
redesign in the company. Oft en this
requires shift ing departments around –
so automation becomes about restructuring
your organization chart.”
Th e good news, he adds, is that the
tasks being automated are typically
those employees fi nd boring. “Designers
can be designers again, instead
of adding cut lines and bleeds,” said
Young. “You can also off er creative
services that you haven’t been able to
support in the past, like 3D design. Th at
is how we see it.”
That is not always how employees
view the changes, though. “Anything
having to do with automation of
the everyday production work can
be terrifying for them – they think
automation is going to remove their
jobs,” said Pieruccini. “So, make sure
your employees understand that the
goal isn’t to replace them; the goal is
to make it easier for them, to change
things a bit, and get work out the
door more efficiently.”
To that end, Belanger notes the
importance of employee training.
“We spend time on-site with clients,
post-implementation to help them
adopt the tool better. The companies
with the best success have designated
a champion – a person who is
willing to adopt and use both the tool
and the data it provides – and who
has the willingness to push discipline
within the factory.”
And, be ready, says Young, for success
to come unevenly. “Automation
isn’t a zero-sum game,” he said. “It’s
a matter or reducing the number of
manual interactions or touchpoints.
Sometimes it will allow 100 percent
automation, and other times you will
achieve a 40 or 60 percent reduction
in manual tasks – and all of those are
successes. Even if you save half an
hour a day per employee, the incremental
gains in productivity add up.”
For Marks, the true value these
tools bring to PSPs is the ability to
see what is working well, and what is
not. “It is not enough to have a processing
tool,” he said. “The question
is ‘How can you use analytics to see
what you should be doing this afternoon
and tonight – instead of what
you have always done?’”
Belanger adds, “And, if you don’t invest
in workfl ow automation, how will
you compete tomorrow against those
who do?”
Automate Today,
Grow Tomorrow
Aleyant’s cloud-based software solutions
can work together, separately or with
3rd party systems to create an efficient
automated printing workflow, resulting
in increased productivity and
reduced costs and errors.
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PERSONALIZATION
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ESTIMATING + PRODUCTION
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or call 630.929.0104
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