Companies are always looking for a competitive advantage.
This is especially true in challenging economic times.
How do you increase efficiency, improve quality, devise the newest solutions and innovations to better address your customers’ needs, all while trying to reduce costs?
How do you network with partners and showcase your products to existing and potential clients?
How do you stay on top of advancements in technologies, processes and procedures?
How do you access the resources needed to navigate the minefield of regulations that can stifle your business?
When struggling with cash flow issues, the all-too-common knee-jerk reaction is to cut “unnecessary” costs. The easiest places to cut are those items that (at first glance) appear to have dubious quantifiable value. Marketing, training and R&D budgets may seem like easy targets, however, cuts to these areas tend to be shortsighted and misguided, hampering your ability to produce quality products, penetrate new markets, or attract and retain a sustainable client base.
Trade association memberships also tend to prematurely find themselves on the chopping block. Member representatives find it difficult to justify the cost of the membership because they feel they just don’t get enough from it. If only they realized how membership, participation, and utilization of association resources could help them gain that elusive competitive advantage. Just think of the multitude of FTA resources available to assist members with training/employee development, sustainability and environmental compliance, market visibility and credibility, as well as quality/process improvement. When you see the bigger picture, the value of membership is much easier to conceptualize. Before you jettison your membership, ask yourself a question:
Are you are aware of all that your membership has to offer?
Training/employee development
FTA offers a wide range of programs, conferences, materials and on-line resources geared to producing highly skilled and productive employees. FTA resources expand knowledge of the flexo process, develop the skills to better control the process, and keep members abreast of the latest advancements and innovations. FFTA’s ever-expanding library of technical aids, CD-ROM training programs and textbooks focuses on every area and aspect of flexo printing.
Seminars, break-out sessions, books, and technical publications are all cheap remedies to expensive problems. An ill-trained workforce is a productivity and profitability sink-hole, causing damage to press components, defective products, and excessive make-ready waste. The investment in reducing any of these ills often produces cost savings and enhanced equipment utilization that far outweighs the cost.
For that reason, the FTA developed state-of-the-art curriculums reengineered to address the needs of the ever-evolving flexo industry. The TEST (Technical Education Services Team) program is the FTA’s comprehensive, one-stop educational and training resource. The key elements of TEST are:
- TEST Virtual Campus
- Customized Training & Advisement
- Co-sponsored Seminars & Events
- Secondary & post-secondary programs
Are your production managers aware of these programs?
Sustainability and environmental compliance
For those in your organization involved in sustainability and safety, the FTA has assembled a phenomenal array of resources and EHS related programs. EHS topics are featured at technical conferences such as the FTA Fall Conference, Regional User’s Group meetings and the annual Technical Forum. The annual NEHS (National Environmental Heath and Safety) conference, (produced by the FTA, Printing Industries of America, National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers and the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association), is the only sustainability conference specifically for the graphic arts industry.
FTA publications including Flexo magazine, Sustainable Flexo, and FLEXO Live provide articles and editorial coverage related to all aspects of the flexo process including EHS issues. The FTA’s EHS Direct E-Newsletter is a monthly electronic publication with timely information on news, regulations, resources, conferences and events focused on the environmental and safety issues relevant to flexo printing industry.
For those wanting a more comprehensive guide, the book, The Flexo Environment, provides readers a tremendous amount of information specific to the regulations and process options that impact the sustainability of a printing facility. The In-Plant Environmental Self-Assessment, produced in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, assists printers in evaluating their own specific environmental challenges, choices and their ramifications.
Established with sustainable business practices as its guiding principles, the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership’s goal is to “encourage and promote participation in the worldwide movement to reduce environmental impact and increase social responsibility of the and graphic communications industry through sustainable green practices.” Companies can be listed as an SGP Certified Facility by meeting a set of criteria to establish performance standards based on their efforts to:
- Employ, wherever and whenever possible, materials derived from renewable resources or with low environmental impact, maximizing recycling and recovery efforts with efficient utilization of renewable energy.
- Encourage the adoption of changes within the supply chain by strongly recommending the use of raw materials that do not threaten or harm future generations.
- Educate the customer and ultimate consumer regarding the benefits of a restorative economy.
To showcase your environmental achievements, the annual Environmental Excellence Awards program recognizes the most significant and innovative approaches. In addition to a trophy, winners are provided with exposure for their accomplishments in Flexo Magazine and at industry events including the NEHS conference and the annual awards banquet at the FTA Forum.
Are your EHS coordinators aware of these resources?
Process improvement
A key to any successful business is efficient utilization of resources. Getting control of process variables is the surest way to reduce process waste (the enormous investment in raw materials, energy, press time, and human resources that gets thrown into the dumpster as make-ready waste or defective finished products). Quality, consistency and defect prevention are no longer goals. In successful companies throughout the supply chain, these are becoming minimum expectations.
Recognizing the growing importance of process control, the FTA established the Flexo Quality Consortium. The FQC performs vital scientific research disseminated at FTA conferences to provide the industry with a better understanding of the factors controlling the quality of the flexographic printing process. FQC projects investigate selected process variables in order to further develop reproducible process concepts that will allow for measurable advancements in flexographic printing technology. FQC actively participates in the global graphic standards committees and associations in researching and representing the flexographic printing process.
None of that research offers any value unless you put it into practice. In order to put theory into practice, you have to establish a common set of guidlelines, targets and tolerances FIRST. You need a common “language” that all participants in the flexographic reproduction process (i.e. customers, designers, prepress providers, raw material & equipment suppliers, and printers) can use for communicating those targets and tolerances. And you need your people trained in application of that language. That is why the FTA developed FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Standards and Tolerances).
More than just another book, FIRST has become the most comprehensive, most frequently referred to, technical resource for the flexographic industry. When adhered to, the specifications outlined in FIRST help all members of the supply chain improve quality, reduce cycle times, minimize rework and waste, and facilitate producing a predictable, consistent result, printrun after printrun. FIRST provides the tools to optimize your processes, improve color consistency, minimize waste and downtime, and increase throughput and productivity.
In its latest revision, FIRST 4.0, there is expanded coverage on...
• Print optimization, fingerprinting, characterization & process control
• Process color calibration
• Near-Neutral Calibration (G7TM)
• Color management
• Color measurement and tolerancing
• Substrate attributes and testing
• Specialty inks and coatings
Sc
holarship opportunities are available for FIRST Operator Certification. The FTA’s new On-Line Auction was devised to generate funds to support these programs.
Are your Quality Managers aware of these offerings?
Market visibility/credibility
In turbulent economic times, it is all the more important to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, regardless of whether you are a printer, supplier or CPC. How do you gain an advantage in market visibility without spending a lot more money on marketing?
FTA offers many opportunities to showcase your products, services, technologies, processes and innovations:
q Present a speech at any of the technical conferences
q Write an article for one of publications
q Exhibit at the Info*Flex and/or regional table-top exhibitions
q Enter one of the awards competitions
(FTA has recognition programs for excellence in flexography, graphic design, technical innovation, industry involvement/leadership and environmental stewardship. The annual Hall of Fame induction recognizes those unique individuals that devote their careers to advancing the flexographic industry.)
q Participate on the committees, councils and projects
q Become a judge for one of the awards competitions
q Become an SGP Patron
(Patronage is an annual commitment with various levels to suit any budget. Companies that become a SGP Patron are promoted on this website and may use the SGP Patron logo on their marketing materials to showcase their commitment to the sustainability movement and endorsement of the SGP Partnership.)
q Donate items for the On-line Auction
Each of these provides market exposure and adds credibility to your message - without breaking the budget! In addition, they lend positive PR value to your organization.
Are your marketing people aware of these promotional channels?
Co$t $aving$
All of these programs and services were developed to benefit your business, but the benefits can be difficult to quantify, especially when trying to justify the annual dues. But are there more tangible benefits that we are overlooking? Can FTA membership actually reduce your costs? The short answer is “Absolutely”. The shorter on is “Wi$e1”.
In case you haven’t heard about it, Wi$e1 is a relatively new program available to all FTA members - specifically to help them reduce operating costs. The program currently consists of 10 affinity partners who provide a variety of business products and services to FTA members at significant member-only discounts. The synergy between FTA, the FTA membership and Wi$e1 partners benefits all constituencies.
The FTA benefits by increasing its value proposition. Being able to offer an even better value helps the association to retain existing and draw in new members, which propagates the FTA and expands its influence. In addition, the FTA receives royalties on some of the Wi$e1 offerings. In return, Wi$e1 partners get additional business from the association’s promotion of their products and services. To complete the circle, FTA members can take advantage of the combined buying power of the association to get significant savings on needed products and services that they would have purchased anyway.
q Utility and telecommunications consulting services
q Computers, electronics, software programs, iPods and accessories
q Disability, Life, Medicare supplement, long-term care, critical illness, annuities
q Payroll services
q Credit card processing
q Shipping, packaging and freight services
q Casualty, property, Workers' compensation
q Foreign exchange and international payment services
q Debt collection
q Website development
A brief overview of the Wi$e1 Partners:
Affiliated Power Purchasers, Inc. www.appienergy.com
q Finds lower utility (electricity and natural gas) costs in deregulated states
q Splits energy savings with client for 2 years
q After 2 years, all savings go to the client
q Helps lower water, recycling, waste removal, freight and telecommunications costs.
q Assists with energy conservation efforts
q Help with lighting retrofits
q HVAC upgrades
q No upfront costs. APPI is compensated when savings are realized.
q Provides free webinars advertised in the FTA’s EHS Direct Newsletter
Apple www.apple.com/eppstore/fta
q FTA Members get employee rates on Apple computer equipment, software, iPods and accessories.
q Specials advertised on a member-only web site.
q Up to 17% savings.
q Complimentary shipping on orders over $50.
q Mac customization.
q Flexible business financing.
Asset Marketplace www.assetmarketplace.net
q Variety of personal insurance products at reduced FTA Member rates.
q Insurance underwritten by Mutual of Omaha.
o Disability
o Life
o Medicare Supplement
o Long Term Care
o Critical Illness
q Annuities
q Member companies may qualify for discounted rates and simplified underwriting.
CompuPay www.compupay.com
q Corporate payroll processing service at reduced rates to FTA Members.
q Multiple options for processing payroll including online, PC, phone-in and fax-in services.
q Payroll and tax filing solutions for clients with 1-5,000 employees.
q Guaranteed accurate and on-time filing of federal, state and local payroll taxes
q Reports in print and online formats
q Electronic new hire reporting, direct deposit, timekeeping system links, benefit accruals, general ledger reporting and interfaces, and industry-specific features including job costing.
Merchant Services Center www.merchantservicecenter.com
q Credit card processing services
q Reduced Member rates typically reserved for the largest of companies.
q Services all types of business needs.
q Telephone orders
q Internet sales
PartnerShip www.partnership.com/75fta
q Shipping program with reduced rates through major carriers
o Save up to 26% on select FedEx Express® services
o Save up to 15% on select FedEx Ground® services
o Save up to 10% on select FedEx Home Delivery® services
q Inbound and outbound shipments
q Small package shipment discounts
q LTL (Less than truck load) shipment discounts
o Save 66% on LTL freight shipments with UPS Freight® and Con-way Freight
Tempus www.tempusconsulting.com
q Foreign Currency & International Payment Program.
q Processes all international business payments to foreign suppliers efficiently and cost effectively.
q 50% discount on wire fees.
NCO - Transworld Systems www.ncogroup.com
q Debt Collection Services
q Customer care
q Delinquency management
q Bad debt recovery
Sentry Business Insurance www.sentry.com/BP/Market/PRT/PRTStart.aspx
q Property
q Casualty
q Worker’s Compensation
WebCentrics www.webcentrics.com
q Professional web site services.
q Develop a free professional company web site for FTA Members.
q Includes sophisticated management tools.
q Online marketing features.
q Reduced monthly service fees.
Are your procurement people aware of these vendor options?
With an expanding product and service portfolio designed to help members remain vibrant and competitive, FTA membership offers a unique value proposition. The resources available to FTA members are invaluable, with benefits for all areas of your business: (production, quality assurance, EHS, sales/marketing, procurement, accounting and human resources). There is one catch, however. The only way to benefit from your FTA membership is to take advantage of what your membership has to offer. FTA membership is a powerful weapon in your arsenal, but it only helps you get that elusive competitive advantage when you use it.
n in regional networking groups. Started as an initiative of the Supplier Leadership Council, the FTA’s regional networking groups (RNG) were formed to bring FTA programs and networking opportunities more accessible to the membership. Strategically positioned in geographic hot-bed areas of flexographic activity, the groups meet every 2-3 months, with speakers addressing pertinent and timely topics, technologies, innovations and best practices.
Based on the success of the GLG, a second RNG was started late last year. The Southeast Networking Group (SNG) held its kick-off meeting in November, with some attendees drawn from as far as 250 miles away. According to Carol Harrison of CTS Industries, (who Chairs the SNG), “the attendees said that they are looking for hard facts to save money”. That is precisely what these groups aim to provide. Fashioned after the GLG, the Southeast group provides similar technical content and a similar program format. As a result, their first meeting was a great success with about 40 attendees.
