Bridging the Productivity Gap

摘要

When machines are not running and production comes to a halt, money, of course, is not being made. It's a common refrain in the manufacturing world, and in printing in particular. But for package printers and converters, uncovering and eliminating productivity gaps wherever they may be lurking is a continuous process, essential to maintaining profitability. The combination of increased demand for fast speed to market, along with a reduction in run lengths as a result of SKU proliferation, has introduced new challenges to the package printing process. But understanding areas where efficiency is impacted can paint a picture of how adjustments in behavior, equipment, or both, can lead to the productivity boost a package printer needs to stay competitive. But because each package printing environment is different, with various customers to satisfy, market segments to serve, and run length quantities to produce, shoring up productivity gaps is not necessarily solely about operational efficiency, explains Aleks Zlatic, GM for packaging software at EFI. In addition to production speeds, converters who understand their customers' specific needs, and address ways to improve their processes to satisfy them, will be at an advantage.