| |
Performance & Planning for the Future
|
Steve Bova, CAE
Executive Director
The end of the year is rapidly approaching, which means there is last minute business to be gained, planning for the following year to be completed, and performance appraisals to be conducted in an effort to assess the future staffing needs of your business.
|
 |
Assessing another's performance is rated in many polls as among the least desirable functions by someone in a supervisory capacity. These tasks are necessity, and the IRgA has a few tools that can help you and your business in some of its human resources capacities.
Job Description Handbook. One objective of performance review is to ensure that position requirements and employee skills are in alignment. The IRgA offers a Job Description Handbook that consists of more than 350 pages of sample employee job descriptions provided by member companies. The handbook contains dozens of sample job descriptions for positions ranging from administration to warehousing and delivery, and everything in between. Use the Job Description Handbook to compare duties and responsibilities of similar positions within other reprographic shops. Updating these documents on an annual basis will ensure that the positions within your company are up to date with current needs and skill sets, and employees will know what is expected of them. This handbook is available to IRgA members for $50 and non-members for $150.
The Employee Handbook Sample Guide is a compilation of five employee policy manuals from successful IRgA member companies. The guide contains several best practices policies that proven to be effective over time. Refer to the sample policies and update your employee manual by the end of the year. The Employee Handbook Sample Guide is available to IRgA members for $49 and non-members for $99.
As a year-end special, IRgA members can order both publications for $75, and non-members can order both for $150 - the regular charge for the Job Description Handbook alone! This offer is good through December 31. To order, call the IRgA office toll-free at (800) 833-4742, or click here to go to the IRgA Bookstore.
As we approach the holiday season, this is a good time of year to be reminded that while we all think it's nice to be important, it's even more important to be nice. Happy Holidays to all from the IRgA!
Return to Top
Industry News
A&E Named Best Workplace, One of 50 Best Companies to Work For
A&E - The Graphics Complex was recently awarded the designation "Best Workplace" in the Best Workplace in the Americas 2005 competition for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, this year marks the fifth year of the Best Workplace in the Americas program - and A&E's fifth win. A&E was also recently named one of the 50 Best Companies to Work for in Texas. This first-ever, statewide survey is supported and endorsed by the publishers of TEXAS MONTHLY, the Texas Association of Business, and the Society for Human Resource Management - Texas State Council, and managed by Best Companies Group. Read more...
Advertisement
 |
Ready to take the next step? Now you can, with PLP's Competitive Upgrade. And save up to 50% on a KIP 8000 or Xerox 721 driver. Purchase PlotWorks® 9800 Server before December 22, 2005 for only $9800. This is a turnkey solution including software, a Dell OptiPlex GX620 PC with Microsoft Windows XP, and on-site installation and training. www.plp.com
|
Sawgrass Technologies Acquires Rotech Digital
Sawgrass Technologies Inc. has recently acquired Rotech Digital, a supplier of sublimation inks. Rotech will continue to operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sawgrass Technologies and maintain its offices and staff in Denmark. Read more...
Advertisement
REPROGRAPHICS PRODUCTION MANAGER, Pacific Northwest
Position will manage 55 employees in multiple branch locations. Qualifications: must have previous production management experience in the reprographics industry; excellent people management skills; hands-on experience with the following processes: large & small format B&W and Color duplication; Scanning; Photo; Diazo; Mounting/Laminating; plan service center software; ability to work one Saturday a month. Salary $40,000 - $80,000 (negotiable); relocation assistance available. Please submit resumes to recruiter@nwintegrators.com; 503-667-4719. |
"Canstruction" Contest Helps End Hunger
Houston's A&E - The Graphics Complex, the Society for Design Administration, the American Institute of Architects and CenterPoint Energy recently organized "Canstruction Houston 2005," a design competition benefiting the Houston Food Bank. The ninth annual competition showcases local architects, engineers and construction professionals, who use canned food, tape and cardboard to show off their talents. Canstruction, a charity committed to ending hunger, puts a visual spotlight on hunger while showcasing the design and construction industry giving back to the communities it helps build. View the winners and Read more...
Advertisement
 |
Drytac is a leading manufacturer of mounting adhesives and overlaminates for all types of graphics. We also offer an extensive line of banner stands, finishing equipment (including laminators and edge finishing, plaquing machines), specialty print media, magnetic materials, mounting and finishing accessories.
www.drytac.com
|
Sean White Joins Valley Supplies
Valley Supplies Inc. recently announced that Sean White joined the company as an account executive specializing in wide-format supplies. Sean has more than six years' experience in sales. His focus will be to expand the relationship with new and current customers while exploring new products to expand support to our customers. Read more...
Advertisement
 |
On Center Software, Inc. brings software solutions to the construction industry since 1988. Digital Complete®, On–Screen Takeoff® and Quick Bid focuses on automating estimating, takeoff and project management processes by improving accuracy, effectiveness and time through use of leading edge technology. On Center Software is your innovative solutions partner. www.oncenter.com |
Return to Top
Inside the IRgA
2006 M&L Seminars Now Available
The 2006 Mounting & Laminating seminar dates are now available. Digital Graphics magazine recently featured the Best Questions of the Year for 2005 and two of them dealt with Mounting & Laminating:
1) Why should I pay more for premium lamination films? and
2) How can I improve safety in the lamination department?
The answers to both of these questions can be found by sending one or more employees to the 2006 IRgA Mounting & Laminating seminars offered in conjunction with Drytac and GBC. Make your plans today as space is limited!
March 16th - 17th Richmond,VA Drytac
April 20th - 21st Madison, WI GBC
May 18th - 19th Los Angeles, CA Drytac
August 17th - 18th Madison, WI GBC
Sept. 21st - 22nd Chicago, IL Drytac
November 9th - 10th Madison, WI GBC
2006 Exhibit Early Bird ends January 31st
The early bird incentive for exhibitors at the 2006 IRgA Convention & Trade Show in Orlando, FL continues through January 31st. Sign up today and save! (Convention registration will go live in early January).
Bukovsky Award Nominations due Jan. 31st
The Bukovsky Award honors the memory of George K. Bukovsky, who worked in the reprographics industry for more than 30 years. All IRgA members may now nominate someone who has made a lasting contribution to the industry. Nominations are due by January 31, 2006.
Note to IRgA Members
As 2005 rolls to a close and many of us begin our audit procedures, please note that the IRgA dues payments are not tax deductible; however donations to the Educational Foundation may be. To donate or learn more about the Educational Foundation, call the IRgA office toll-free at (800) 833-4742.
Return to Top
Feature
Keep Your Customers
Mid-volume engineering plotters can attract your clients - don't let them go!
By Ed Avis
The announcements look innocuous-just another new engineering printer, maybe something else for the shop. But look closely and you see that the printer isn't really a production printer, nor is it a onesy-twosy machine like most found in engineering offices. Instead it's a mid-volume plotter/copier, designed for the mid-size to large A/E/C firm that wants do to more printing in-house (and less in your shop!).
From the perspective of the manufacturer and the end user, these machines fill a void in the market. They allow A/E/C firms, contractors and subcontractors to quickly and conveniently print drawings that previously had to be sent out.
From the shop owner's perspective, these machines could represent a threat-or an opportunity.
Reprographics shops can deal with this situation three ways:
1. By becoming dealers, if they aren't already, of this equipment, and fighting to keep the service and consumables contracts
2. By setting up facilities management (FM) operations in those firms that opt to bring their printing in-house
3. By promoting the fact that the reprographics shop can become a complete document management service provider rather than just a copy/print shop.
The full article on this subject will appear in the Jan/Feb 2005 issue of REPRO REPORT.
Return to Top
For advertising information, contact Erin Beekhuis at IRgA Headquarters: ebeekhuis@irga.com or 800/833–4742. Or, click here to fill out the Advertising Information Request and information will be emailed to you.
|
