Growing in 2015?
Stock market blips notwithstanding, it's reasonable to believe the American economy will continue to grow this year. The real question is - will your firm share in this growth?
Industry guru Bob Lindgren argues this will depend on whether you are looking for customers or waiting for the phone to ring. Because the firms in our industry are micro compared to the print market as a whole, it's possible for firms to move ahead of the pack through hard but sensible work. A great salesman once said, "if it's worth quoting, it's worth selling!"
He notes that simply put, your price must be able to produce sales as streams of rejected quotes just demonstrate that another firm is a better solution. Pricing policy must be matched to the market. Prices that mechanistically flow from your estimating system either leave dollars on the table because the customer was willing to pay more if they were asked, or walk away from opportunities that could have produced dollars to pay for the overhead. Almost always, profitable firms in our industry are those that are busy. Living with sales that are far below what could be produced from the existing plant inevitably leads to the erosion of working capital. When working capital is gone, closure is the only option. This should be avoided at all cost.
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 Is Your Smartphone dead?
If you and your employees depend on cell phones and other mobile devices to communicate on the go, you've probably already suffered the inconvenience of getting cut off when a battery goes dead. Here are some sensible precautions to take if you need to keep mobile communications going.
External Battery Packs
A small and inexpensive gadget can plug into a dying phone and keep the power on until you've finished. Invest in a few for employees who are frequently out of the office - sales people, repair personnel etc.
Location-based devices
A smartphone's GPS sends data through a network all the time, eating up power. When you don't need it for directions, save energy by turning it off.
Brightness
Most smartphones automatically adjust screen brightness to match the surrounding light. Set phones to a fixed setting that you can view comfortably, and you'll reduce the power drain.
Bluetooth
While convenient for hands-free communication, Bluetooth devices can use a lot of energy. Turn them off when they're not needed.
Auto lock
Even if you always remember to turn off your screen when you're not using your device, a phone can easily switch itself back on with the wrong nudge in your pocket or bag. Set auto lock to the shortest time available to conserve power when your phone isn't in use.
Wi-Fi
Your smartphone uses power all the time when it's always searching for the nearest available hotspot. Shut off the "Ask To Join Networks" function, and you'll only use power when you specifically sign on to the Wi-Fi hotspot you need.
Close down programs
You may not realize it but every time you open a program it is sitting in the background of your phone running. Shut these down when you are not using them.
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 Latest OSHA Stats
The latest statistics from OSHA covering fiscal year 2014 on inspections for the printing industry have been released. While the total number of inspections increased dramatically from the previous year, the total dollar amount of penalties actually dropped. Last year, there were 525 inspections compared to 205 in 2013. But the total penalty assessment decreased from $911,530 to $766,109. The number of actual citations also fell from 898 to 736. The top five violated standards include machine guarding, lockout/tagout, electrical safety, hazard communication, and powered industrial trucks such as forklifts. The citations for machine guarding and lockout/tagout have climbed in frequency over the past several years and are a reflection of OSHA's continued emphasis on amputation prevention in the printing industry. More details on each year's statistics dating back to 2002 can be found at www.printing.org/page/3608.
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 Ask Dr. B!
Printing Industries of America has introduced a new free resource of technical Q & A specifically designed to support members. Led by Dr. Mark Bohan and his team of experts at the Center for Technology and Research, the resource features the responses to questions covering a wide gamut of topics. If you would like to ask a technical question, simply email Dr. Bohan at mbohan@printing.org or call PIA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-910-4283.
What does the thixotropic property of ink refer to?
Paste inks when worked or stirred lose viscosity and flow more easily. As ink runs through a press roller train it will have a lower viscosity than when it was in the can. What issues can occur if I store rollers horizontally?
When stored for extended periods, horizontally stored rollers can cause them to bow or be out of round. A quick remedy is on a monthly basis rotate the rollers by quarter of a turn. Placing rollers on surfaces can cause flat spots and should be avoided.
Why does paper in cover pockets of three-ring binders stick?
Most likely, some plasticizer from the plastic is coming to the surface and softening the ink.
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 DOL Modifies FMLA Rule to Cover Same-Sex Spouses Last month the Department of Labor (DOL) released a revised Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulation that expands the definition of spouse for leave purposes. Employees in same-sex marriages - regardless of where they live - will now have the same rights to benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act as other employees. Previously, the regulatory definition of "spouse" did not include same-sex spouses if an employee lived in a state that did not recognize the employee's same-sex marriage. Under the new rule, eligibility for federal FMLA benefits is based on the law of the place where the marriage occurred. The federal FMLA applies to employers with 50 or more employees.
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 Reserve your Print Excellence Event Tickets. Events right around the corner!
The Print Excellence Awards are right around the corner. Have you reserved your tickets yet? The Phoenix event will be held on Thursday, April 23rd at Rustler's Rooste. To reserve your tickets or a discounted table, click on PHOENIX REGISTRATION. The Denver event will be held on Thursday, April 30th at the Downtown Embassy Suites Hotel. To reserve your tickets or a discounted table, click on DENVER REGISTRATION.Detailed information on both events can be found on the WSPA Website.
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 Last Chance to Sign Up for CSR Class! Would you like to be a top performer? Would you like less professional stress in your life, fewer fire drills and a normal work day? This class will help you get there. You'll learn easy ways to handle difficult customers and situations, control chaos, avoid emergencies, increase accuracy, repair strained relationships and recover when you're the one who "blew it." This fast-paced three hour program will cover: - Professional Problem Solving
- Successfully addressing customer complaints
- Stick-handling irate customers
- Delivering bad news
- How to manage your time like a pro!
WHEN: Thursday, March 26, 2015 (9:00 am - Noon) WHERE: Pacific Office Automation (1305 W. 1st Street Tempe) PRICE: Only $39 for WSPA Members REGISTER HERE Depending on the success of this event, a similar program is in development for Denver in May.
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Weekly Photo Feature:
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Each week E-Connects will share incredible photos on just how lax companies can be when it comes to safety.
The goal - to keep a safe work environment front and center on the minds of all of your employees.
No crane? No worries....we can balance on this ledge.
Incredible.
If you come across a funny safety pic you think should be featured, email Michael Makin at
mmakin@wsprint.org.
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Quote For The Week
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter, try again, fail again. Fail better!"
Samuel Beckett
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