Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1482193
VITAL SIGNS MATT DIXON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR VITAL SIGNS MATT DIXON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR THE WORKFLOW MISSION WANT TO KNOW MORE? Feel free to give me a call directly at 720-566-7286 or email me at mdixon@nbm.com. C ompleting the project is always the ultimate goal. But sometimes, how we get there can be quite the adventure. at's why an efficient workflow is so import- ant. But building that efficient workflow can often involve a lot of trial and error and often a lot of wasted time, effort, and materials before you find that Goldilocks zone of production. When I was a kid, I was as big a fan of the show "e A-Team" as any other kid in my class. But I'd be lying if today I said that after each magazine comes off the press that I get to sit back, do my best Hannibal Smith impersonation and say, "I love it when a plan comes together," while chomping on a cigar. First off, the last time I smoked a cigar, I literally had to watch a YouTube video to find out if I was doing it right. (Spoiler: I wasn't.) Second, as is the case for many these days, there's not much time to celebrate a completed project before the backlog of other projects brings down the mood. So, where in this process can you find time to improve your workflow? Surely you didn't build time into your current workflow to evaluate your current workflow. at's the type of thing that someone who folds fitted sheets would do. So, likely this much- needed evaluation happens in the back of your mind at 8 p.m. during your daughter's grade-school recital, in which she's obviously the most talented tree in the show. Can software ease your workflow issues? It sure can. But narrowing down your choices there can be a job in and of itself, so I recommend asking around your indus- try cohorts to get their recommendations to narrow down the list before you really start digging into your research. But of course, don't just take the first recommenda- tion you get. at's how you end up drinking chocolate water and not trusting your big sister for 12 years. Don't ask me how I know. Equipment, staff, and available shop space are all considerations that need to be addressed when creating a workflow. And unfortunately, there are only so many recit- als you can zone out in before your daughter gets wise. For resources on creating or adjusting your workflow, be sure to check out these informational pieces at graphics-pro.com: DIRECTOR, EVENT OPERATIONS JACKIE RAMSIER jramsier@nbm.com EXHIBITOR SERVICES MANAGER JOIE MARTIN jmartin@nbm.com PRESIDENT DAVE POMEROY VICE PRESIDENT / AUDIENCE & EVENTS LORI FARSTAD VICE PRESIDENT / FINANCE KORI GONZ ALES, CPA VICE PRESIDENT / CONTENT REGAN DICKINSON DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES WOLF BUTLER AUXILIARY SUPPORT ERIN GADDIE CEO & OWNER ROBERT H. WIEBER, JR. 10170 Church Ranch Way Suite #401, Westminster, CO 80021 ( 800 ) 669-0424 | ( 303 ) 469-0424 | FAX ( 303 ) 469-5730 W W W.G R A P H I C S - P R O.C O M PRESIDENT DAVE POMEROY dpomeroy@nbm.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR MAT T DIXON mdixon@nbm.com DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR MARIE FENNEMA mfennema@nbm.com DIRECTOR OF SALES JAMES "RUGGS" KOCHEVAR jkochevar@nbm.com SENIOR TERRITORY MANAGER – WEST BRANDY JAMISON-NETH brandy@nbm.com TERRITORY MANAGER – MIDWEST SARA REESE sreese@nbm.com TERRITORY MANAGER – NORTHEAST & CANADA KRYSTAL FRANKLIN k franklin@nbm.com TERRITORY MANAGER – SOUTHEAST DESIREE DELFRARI ddelfrari@nbm.com TERRITORY MANAGER – PACIFIC & INTERNATIONAL RYAN APPLEBAUM rapplebaum@nbm.com ART DIRECTOR LINDA CRANSTON linda@nbm.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER IVETH GOMEZ igomez@nbm.com SALES SUPPORT SYDNEY BATCH sbatch@nbm.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAUL A AVEN GL ADYCH, MAT T CHARBONEAU, JENNIFER COX, PAUL INGLE, CHARIT Y JACKSON, A ARON MONTGOMERY, GINNY MUMM, HOWARD POT TER, DEANNA RAMM, STEPHEN ROMANIELLO, JASON SCHANER, KRISTINE SHREVE, SHELLEY WIDHALM, LON WINTERS EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD DAN BAREFOOT, ERICH CAMPBELL, MAT T CHARBONEAU, DANE CLEMENT, BOB HAGEL, KERRIE MALLORY-THOMPSON, BRADEN TODD, LON WINTERS EDITORIAL INTERN NATHAN STROMBERG nstromberg@nbm.com • Hands-Off Handling: Benefits of Automated Workflow in Wide-Format Printing https://gpro.link/automation • Podcast: Mastering Workflows and Checklists https://gpro.link/masteringworkflow • Hidden Workflow Tips https://gpro.link/workflowtips 8 G R A P H I C S P R O • N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M