The Power of Continuous Improvement Buy the Steak, not the Sizzle What Drives TCO? Future Authors 2008 Digital Nirvana
As 2008 continues to rollout before us, the economy is rocky, Wall Street is in turmoil, the housing market is in free fall, fuel prices are soaring, and every legislator and economist is on edge. Meanwhile, things still have to get printed and mailed and you're thinking about 2009. Technology can help change the economics of many businesses but it always comes down to this: What does it make sense to invest in? Every hard-earned dollar needs to go to the right place the first time, and if you're thinking about what and when to buy, there is more to the decision than just the flash of new model names and the gleam of new technology.
Buy the Steak, not the Sizzle The meat comes from continuous investment
The sizzle of new technology is always there, but when it comes to investing in new equipment it's vitally important to learn about the company behind the sizzle. It's especially important to see how the continual investments a print engine vendor makes can deliver value for customers. Look beyond the types of printers and presses that are most relevant to your business so you can see what else the company is doing, because this shows you how the company thinks and how it sees the market.
Investment Protection Whatever your needs may be, the acquisition of new equipment or software should never be made lightly. Always look to the benefits you expect to achieve. New machines offer not only higher speed and better productivity but lower operating costs --critical attributes in a time when the pressure is on the economy and business profits. Be sure to ask your vendor about the investment protection that comes from a strategy of continuous investment in innovation and products that meet market needs. For example, ask how the black-and-white equipment you buy today can give you investment protection you need when you make the move to color tomorrow. Not all companies will have an answer.
For instance, today your business may thrive off of its black-and-white cut sheet systems. You know you'll still need monochrome machines for much of your work, but you also need a clear migration path to color. When you look at the economics, it may make sense to shift to a higher volume, color capable system like those in the Océ VarioStream 8000 or Océ VarioStream 9000 families. These can provide greater productivity, more versatility, smooth the transition to highlight color, and in the case of the VarioStream 9000, to full-color printing. If you have very high print volumes and want to print in color and monochrome, it might be time to consider a high-speed ink jet system such as the Océ JetStream series.
Redefining Choices The best approach is actually pretty simple. Look at what vendors have been doing and how their technology has advanced. Look at the range of products they have invested in and introduced over time and how well they meet the needs of the marketplace. Are they offering something really new, or just updates to the same old iron? And look at software, too, and see whether it has kept pace with demands for automated workflows, new application support, and the scalability needed to grow with your business.
Beyond looking for continual investments and improvements, look for multiple choices in each of the major equipment categories. But keep it simple. Guy Broadhurst, Vice President of New Technologies and Client Development at Océ North America, breaks it down into just five categories: Monochrome cut sheet, color cut sheet, monochrome continuous form, color continuous form, and ink jet.
"These categories help you see the landscape more clearly," Broadhurst notes. "There are speed ranges within each of these, and what should drive your decision is your applications and the combination of performance, paper handling, pre- and post-processing, and workflow software that fit those applications. And always remember that software, field upgradeability and pre- and post-processing systems can be much more important to overall productivity--and TCO--than mere speed."
It is better to focus on your needs today and how you can also achieve the investment protection you need moving forward by looking at the companies that have made continual investments along with the investment protection programs to support your needs.
What Drives TCO? Who Pays the Price?
Once you get past the sizzle and figure out which digital print engine is best for you, the number that ultimately comes up is TCO--the Total Cost of Ownership. The claims being made for TCO of many new presses are getting to be like a description of the universe: a riddle wrapped in a mystery surrounded by a conundrum. Cutting through the clutter, it really comes down to the trifecta of hardware, maintenance, consumables. In each case, paying attention to the details is worth the effort.
Hardware The obvious component is the print engine itself, but not so obvious are options such as RIPS and pre- and post-processing units. It's a little like buying a car. Some items are available individually while others only come as part of option packages. Salespeople often tell you only what you need to know to get the price to where you want it, so make a point of asking about everything you can and make sure you understand the details. Knowing more can save you money while helping you get the total solution that is best for your operation.
For example, be sure you understand what is being quoted regarding monthly print volumes, uptime, utilization, and machine capacity, and how these are calculated. For example, Océ quotes its monthly machine capacity at 70% of how much could conceivably be printed. This provides a conservative number when planning for potential monthly print output and provides a buffer for peak volumes.
Now take it down a notch and look at uptime and utilization. Sometimes these are used interchangeably but they actually have specific definitions. Uptime is a function of machine availability, accounting for regular and preventive maintenance. Utilization is how much of that uptime the printer is actually used, based on the volume of work suitable for that device. This can vary due to operator skill, job complexity and job changeover.
While crunching numbers, don't forget pre and post devices and the software necessary to run them. Too often companies need more finishing capabilities but only consider one finishing option. At Océ, we partner with multiple pre- and post- processing firms so we can offer a wide range of choices.
When you put the whole system together, look at finished throughput, not just uptime or print speed. You make your money from productivity--the number of finished, sellable documents produced and the fastest machine is not always the most productive. For example, suppose you are printing 100-page books for a customer that needs to be perfect bound with a full color cover. The pages are largely monochrome but include about 30 full-color pages that are either printed offset or from a digital press. On an Océ VarioPrint 6250 with an inline perfect binding system, books like this can be produced in about 90 seconds, with the color pages being interposed on-the-fly because the pre-printed color pages can bypass the imaging engine and be joined with the monochrome pages at full-rated speed of 250 duplex impressions per minute.
Maintenance On the maintenance side there are generally two components, a click charge and the base maintenance. The click is typically charged either by the impression (page) or by the linear foot for continuous feed printers. Base maintenances applies regardless whether you print or not. There are many variants to this from all-inclusive plans to a super click (combinations of equipment cost, consumables and monthly maintenance and usage charges) to volume plans, but there is always a charge for usage. Beware the person who says there is no click: the number is just buried in the base price, the lease or in the consumables!
Consumables This is the biggest area of discussion--and it can go on and on in different directions. Suppose you have a choice of 1 cent per impression or half a cent, which one would you buy? The answer is far from simple or obvious and it even varies by print engine, RIP and even document composition software. For instance, did you know different software gives different coverage results? So when it comes to making a decision, there is no totally accurate way to measure it and see what the results are--until the machines are up and running jobs in your shop. Ask vendors for averages and once installed you should be within 5-10% of estimates. And have them put the yields in writing and keep to their promises!
A Final Tip The closer you look at all the numbers the less likely you are to be surprised. The best approach is to ask questions and make sure you collect it the same way as the vendor and fill out your own TCO forms. Don't be afraid to ask the vendors for their TCO numbers and see how they work. Most know their competitors numbers, and can put those into any comparison. And don't forget to "sanity check" your work.
Sixty Students Complete Third Annual Océ Future Authors Writing Workshop
Their pens were flying and their ears were perked as about 60 lucky middle and high school students from throughout Palm Beach County, including 10 Glades area students who participated via distance learning, received writing tips from such well-known local authors as Jonathon King, Margaret Ahnert, and James O. Born.
A Path to Being Published The free eight-day writing workshop held at Boca Raton High School was offered for the third year as part of the Océ Future Authors Writing Project, a collaborative effort by Océ North America Production Printing Systems Division and the School District of Palm Beach County. During the summer workshop students learn how to improve their writing skills, gain hands-on understanding of how authors are published, and learn about todays digital print and publishing opportunities.
Students gain insight through interactions with Océ executives, as well as published authors, who lead interactive discussions with the students. The day-long sessions are taught by certified Palm Beach County teachers, who conduct daily writing exercises, coaching sessions and writing practice. Works from each student are then compiled and digitally printed in final book form by Boca Raton-based Océ North America Production Printing Systems division. The book will be unveiled at a book signing event in November.
(From left) Stephanie Brown, 10th grader at Atlantic High School; Lila Stallone, 8th grader at Omni Middle School; Whitney Sha, 7th grader at Omni Middle School; Sindy Bohada, 9th grader at Spanish River High School; and Kenneth Rodriguez, a senior at Atlantic High School.
Blithe Parsons, a Future Author, who will be a freshman this fall at Wellington High School, enjoyed the workshop because it gave her the chance to write freely and uninterrupted for more than an hour each class. I loved the workshop, she said. One of my dreams is to become a published author, so I plan to apply what the authors discussed, like writing every day and being persistent.
Atlantic High School senior Kenneth Rodriguez, Jr. has had a love of writing since 8th grade and hopes to have writing as part of his future career. He said the workshop activities made all of the students think about what it takes to be an author. My favorite activity was where we were handed subjects, verbs and nouns that didnt match and we had to put them into a story, he said. It really made us think. I would definitely recommend this program to my friends.
Mary Wilson, an assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School, helped to create the Océ Future Author program and serves as the academic coordinator. "In coordinating this program, I work with such uniquely talented teachers," she said. "Stephanie Tomaselli and Pamela Baker from Carver Middle School, and Peter Birkett from Pahokee Middle/Senior High are exceptional instructors with a gift for reaching and inspiring students to write their hearts out."
From left: Mark Hansen, School District of Palm Beach County school board member; Sheryl Pattek, vice president of marketing services for Océ North America Production Printing Systems division; Author Jonathon King; Mary Wilson, School District of Palm Beach County assistant principal and program coordinator; and Melinda Lee, executive director of the BankAtlantic Foundation
Public-Private Partnerships School District of Palm Beach County Board Member Mark Hansen, who has supported the program since its beginning, says efforts like this exemplify the importance of public-private partnerships that bring unique educational opportunities to students.
Companies like Océ that contribute their resources and expertise to further the education process are a vital component of our school system, he said. Its been a pleasure to watch the faces of students light up when they see their own writings published in a real book. Everyone benefits from creative programs like this one.
Sheryl Pattek, Vice President of Marketing Services for Océ North Americas Production Printing Systems division in Boca Raton, says her company is committed to creating an inspiring educational program for our youth. We are proud to be working with the school district to support a venture that has proven to cultivate a love of writing and reading among students.
As founders of the Future Authors program, Océ executives believe the age of digital publishing will open up more opportunities for these aspiring authors. Digital printing technologies are revolutionizing the business of book publishing, added Pattek. Publishers can now cost-effectively print books in run lengths anywhere from 1 to 10,000 creating exciting opportunities for new talentlike these future authorswho now can get their works published. It brings a rich diversity of books to market for all of us to enjoy. As a leader in providing digital printing solutions for the book industry, Océ is delighted to support the Future Authors program and to help make each students dream a reality.
For information on how to support the Océ Future Authors Writing Project, contact Mary Kay Murray, executive director of the District of Palm Beach Education Foundation at murrymk@palmbeach.k12.fl.us or visit.
Don't miss the latest commentaries and discussions at to gain further insights into our ever-changing industry. Océ's Guy Broadhurst looks at the importance of thinking convergently in our turbulent times. Editor Adam DeWitz brings up the subject of opportunity, and there are new insights into the dynamics of TransPromo, ink jet recyclability, and the relevance of information.
Océ helps the people who make our world. Companies everywhere use Océ technical documentation systems in manufacturing, architecture, engineering and construction. Each week, high-speed Océ printing systems produce millions of transaction documents such as bank statements and utility bills. And in offices around the world, people use Océ professional document systems to keep the wheels of business and government turning. Océ is also at work in publishing on demand, newspaper production and wide format color for spectacular display graphics. It all helps our professional customers go 'Beyond the Ordinary' in printing and document management.
