NIPPA reaches for peak performance in inplants

The NIPPA 2012 Conference saw delegates join with sponsors to examine how peak performance plays an integral part of inhouse printing

Queenstown played host to this year’s NIPPA Conference. Karen Farr, president of NIPPA , the Network of In-house Print Professionals Australasia, welcomed delegates to the conference, reminding them that they had an opportunity to examine ways they could improve their performance and the performance of their print shops. She said, “This is about peak performance. We all know about the recession and how tough it has become in the print industry so we need to find ways to move ahead. One thing we can do is ensure that, as individuals and as organisations that we operate at our peak, delivering quality and on time.”

The conference featured several highlights including the NIPPA Awards Night, an array of speakers, and a designated sponsors area where delegates networked with sponsors. Karen Farr thanked the sponsors without whom the conference could not take place: Océ, Canon, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Sharp, Renz Australia, Hewlett Packard, Fuji Xerox NZ, Pitney Bowes, Lanier, Ferrostaal, Waikanae Plastics, MacroProDM, AM International, TS Wilson, B&F Papers, KW Doggetts, Currie Group and Jenrite.

The members and sponsors forum featured overseas guets Maury Kane and Rebecca Hanlon alongside locals David Hills form Waikato University; Farren Doyle from B & F Papers; Chae Ball, from Fuji Xerox; and Paul Cohen from Renz Australia. New Zealand Printer editor Bruce Craig mediated the forum, which examined questions around marketing the industry, especially as a twilight industry; the environment and how to publicise print as a sustainable medium; NIPPA as a co-operative enterprise and how to work best with suppliers; and how can we use social media as a tool for in house printing. The panel and audience offered a diverse range of opinions, covering and uncovering aspects of these issues that the industry must face head on.

Poster competition
Split into members and sponsors entries, Océ Canon Group representatives judged the member entries and the APME and ACUP representatives judged the members entries. Prizes went to:

Members posters
Gold Award – Simon Giles (Dept of Defence)
Silver Award – Nadia Hollins (Manningham City Council)
Bronze Award – Marian Thompson (Massey University)
Silver Spoon Award – Justine Wilson (Unitec NZ)

Sponsors Posters
Gold Award – Ricoh Australia
Silver Award – Lanier Australia
Bronze Award – Fuji Xerox New Zealand

Branch Member of the Year
Members received these awards for their involvement and contribution to their branch between Oct 2011 – Oct 2012. The awards went to:

Central Branch – Goran Gajic
Southern Branch – Simon Giles
Northern Branch – Sandra Black
Western Branch- Craig MacKenzie
Eastern Branch- Kim Herod
Professional Development
2012 Professional Development Certificates went to Justine Wilson, Karen Farr, Kate Svensen, Lan Chin So, Talie Aumua, Sue Celligoi, Lynn Norris, Nadia Hollins, Rob Roberts, Craig Gibbs, Rowan Brown, Peter Cuthbert, John Eather, Goran Gajic, Kim Herod, Simon White, Ricky Moldrich, Barbara Patton Oakes, Bert Veenis, Simon Giles, Marian Thompson and June Lincoln.

Quantum printing
Speakers at the NIPPA conference offered a range of solutions for in-house print professionals looking to reach peak performance

STEVE PRICE, the keynote speaker, delivered a summation of his career, pointing out his good fortune and identified strategies anyone can implement for success. He said, “One thing I learned early on is that you are in control of your own destiny. When you aren’t going well, don’t blame anyone else for how you are going.”

Price gained an MBA while captain of the Warriors rugby league team and he offered specific advice on peak performance. He said, “You can do yourself some favours in terms of brand value. Think of yourself as a brand; be well presented; be on time; treat your clients the way you want be treated; make that great first impression. All those things that you know are important; you need to do those things every day.”

MAURY KANE, from Philadelphia, USA, and a past president of the Association of College and University Printers, gave delegates cause to consider the future of in-plant printing with his presentation: The Quantum Universe of Inplant Printing. He said, “As I begin my retirement, I wonder what how the printers of tomorrow will fare in the digital age. We are facing challenges for the future. I want to suggest to you that we are facing new paradigms in the industry.”

Kane suggested that for peak performance, printers needed to know where they stood. He said, “You have to be plugged into the world as it really is. Of course you need to establish good habits. Don Miguel Ruez says, ‘Be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions; and always do your best.’”

He also commented on the integrity of the print industry. He said, “We need to consider the concept of service to others as a part of wider community. Honesty, integrity and competence help our commitment to each other and to others outside the company. We need a commitment to excellence and a commitment to profit; profit is not a dirty word. We need to honour these kinds of standards.”

REBECCA HANLON manages print production at Cardiff Metroplitan University in Wales, which has three campuses. Chair of the Association of Print Managers in Education (APME) since 2009, Hanlon sees real value in members attending conferences, seminars and networking. She says, “It’s about sharing knowledge. You have to take the opportunities you get.”

She encouraged the audience to embrace change; for instance, wide format. She said, “You have to take educated risks. A recent seminar featured printers who had introduced wide format print. Everyone who has taken it up in the UK has enjoyed success.

“Also, be confident. Everyone you meet now believes themselves to be a specialist in print. However, it is not a common skill. When someone challenges your work and threatens to outsource, remember all you do. For instance, we print the parking labels and work for the art shop. All these are added values. Outside companies can’t do these jobs. You hear people saying they can save 30 per cent but the truth is something different.”

DAMIAN SCHALLER, marketing manager Océ Australia, encouraged the audience to look at new revenue streams, such as books but he warned, “Shorter runs will become more popular. You may need to produce a run of one book and, if you don’t know how to do that, you should look at partnering with someone who does.

“The market has changed and will continue to change. Over 11 million eReaders have been sold worldwide, especially Kindle type readers and this does not include 60million iPads. What does that mean for us. Do you notice your work floating away to these kind of providers? If you are producing books, lomger runs will decline. You need to be able to produce a run of one book extremely efficiently.”

WARWICK BEBAN, general manager of Konica New Zealand, which employs 500 people supporting 40,000 machines for 20,000 customers, said, “We owe it to ourselves our customers and our staff to achieve peak performance. You have to ask does your team know where your business is headed? Can your members repeat your message back to you and do they know the purpose behind the goals you have set? And, do they know what they are being measured against?”

MARK KATRAKIS, national business development manager product solutions at Ricoh Australia, said, “There is opportunity everywhere. 3D printing is something to get pretty excited about; it may be the third industrial revolution. There are 3D printers out there that are producing body parts, chocolate, you name it and who knows how that could complement the print industry in the future?”

Life members announced on Awards Night
NIPPA delegates ended a busy second day at the conference attending the NIPPA Awards night, which had several highlights, including the most touching moment when the life memberships were awarded to Peter cuthbert and Brian Evans.

Karen Farr said, “The NIPPA Lifetime Membership Award is an honour given to individuals who have unselfishly and tirelessly contributed to NIPPA and within the print industry. It is a way to recognise and express gratitude to members, who have clearly given of themselves beyond the norm expected. Selected by the Committee of Management, this year’s Award goes to two: Brian Evans and Peter Cuthbert. Both are diverse and dominant individuals who have contributed a lot of hard work and dedication to NIPPA over the years.”

Brian Evans dedicated 10 years of service to the Network of In-house Print Professionals Australasia (NIPPA) as a committee member, stepping down at the 2006 conference in Alice Springs. Colleagues and industry vendors from throughout Australia and New Zealand paid tribute to his contribution at a presentation during the 2006 conference. Karen Farr said, “Ten years is a long, long time to be willing to serve on a committee – and don’t forget, this is on top of managing a busy University print operation.”

Peter Cuthbert, who could not be present at the conference but accepted his award via a Skype link,  and gave the conference a special and gentle moment  as he thanked Nippa.  He has worked tirelessly for NIPPA, especially in his role of Central Branch president.

Rob Roberts said, “Peter is highly respected not only by members but also by our sponsors. He is a man who has the great ability to always see the funny side of any situation. A gentle giant, he is softly spoken but you can be assured that everything he has to say is worth listening to.”

Océ Canon Group sponsored the night with Simon Wheeler, managing director of Océ in Oceania and newly appointed director of the Canon Professional Print divisions across Australia and New Zealand, helping to present the prizes.

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