June 2007- Complex Jobs Call for Special Planning

Complex jobs – those that involve several processes, unusual materials and special handling requirements – present opportunities for printers and binders to increase revenues and create stronger customer relationships by making the “impossible” a reality. To successfully pull off a complex project involves coordination and communication between all parties.

At The Riverside Group, we’re well-versed in the steps required to make complex projects a breeze for printers and their customers. Here are a few planning tips to keep in mind when initiating a complex job:

• Bring Everyone to the Table: Everyone involved with a complex project – including the customer, printer, bindery and anyone else responsible for its success – should participate in an initial planning meeting to ensure all project details and expectations are “on the table”.

• Identify Key Project Elements: Not every element of a complex project is created equal. Some details, such as the grade of a cover material or exact color of a foil, may be flexible if it will save time, money or improve the look or functionality of the finished piece. Identifying the “untouchable” elements early will allow production partners to offer suggestions and avoid hang-ups downstream.

• Set Reasonable Expectations: Don’t fall into the trap of over-promising and under-delivering. There are few “impossible” jobs, but without clear expectations regarding production processes, schedules and materials, project success will be difficult to attain.

• Stick with a Dedicated Team: Issues will arise with complex projects; it’s the nature of the beast. A dedicated team with responsibility for the project in question can often quickly create a workable solution when a crisis arises.

These tips all share one common theme: Open, frequent communication will help guarantee smooth sailing for even the most complex, detail-laden projects.

The Riverside Advantage
The experienced staff at Riverside has helped plan and execute many complex and challenging projects. Our range of binding and finishing solutions includes PUR binding, perfect binding, case binding, mechanical binding (including Wire-O and plastic spiral), die cutting, foil stamping, embossing, UV coating, film laminating and much more. Let us help you with your next project from the initial planning stage to delivery of the finished product.