UK based Publishing company after some feedback...

[Angela]

I work within a UK based magazine publishing co. - I'm interested to get a view on the following from pre-press staff (specifically bureau staff):
How willing would you be to work for your current employer but in a sub-contract scenario within a publishing house?
i.e. be paid by the bureau but operate from the publishing company's premises, under the guidance of their staff.
Just an idea I'm toying with at the moment and you guys seem to be an opinionated bunch!!

Thanks.

[Lammy]

I actually have a friend working in this scenario. He works for Xerox but is at another companies facility. His deal seems pretty good. I suppose as long as my benefits and salary don't lessen, what's it matter?

[polites]

me too, as far as its a good deal why not 8)

[Bart]

Angela,

Outsourcing the entire production function to an outside agency is something that those pre press bureaux that still exist are desperately trying to sell to their publishing clients and some will succeed. This will be mainly due to lack of initiative and management skills currently inherent in many large publishing production departments.

Those publishers that have already brought the entire pre press function in-house, using existing resources, have found job satisfaction amongst production personnel has risen immeasurably. Those still outsourcing this function are desperate to cut costs but many lack the gumption to tackle this issue. As a proportion of the total production costs for your titles, pre press probably represents under 10%, so to senior management is small change and it's importance is reflected by this (which probably p*sses you off no end!!!).

Outsourcing your production services will probably work. Currently, it seems to to work successfully for the larger advertising agencies and print management firms. However, there should be no need to take on this cost. You have the existing personnel and, if managed correctly, they should be able to undertake the additional responsibilities without having to work the extra hours that either they or you envisage this will all take. If you were to undertake this responsibility then you would have to radically rethink your production supply chain and workflow. It is possible. If you don't believe me then I can show you hundreds of magazines where it does.

It will always be cheaper and more effective to carry out work in-house using your own resources. Continuing to outsource the pre press function is just delaying the inevitable. You may be a cost centre but at least you are paying the cost price.

Just my 2p worth :twisted:

[Angela]

Thanks for your comments guys.

Bart,
I agree wholeheartedly with you and as a company we're in a position where repro for 65% of our titles is done in-house and this works beautifully (and very cost-effictively!)
However, I'm now in a position where the remaining titles require an investment in skilled personnel in order to facilitate in-house workflows and also maintain the quality of work involved.
Hence the investigation into sub-contracting these personnal from an existing repro bureau.
I guess what I'm doing is adding a third option:
outsourced vs. in-house vs. sub-contracted
Since I'm not aware of any publishing houses operating this scenario, I wanted some feedback from potential sub-contractees! :wink:

[Bart]

You're right, there are currently no other publishing companies in the UK operating that scenario. You could try talking to some of the big ad agencies who currently outsource their production personnel to get their view on how it works. Their rates would probably be 10 times yours but you might be able to get some interesting pointers. I have a list of many of these agencies somewhere if you need it.

Whilst I appreciate that you are looking for a contractors point of view, you must, at all times, consider your Board's interests. Would you employ a temp agency to fill all your secretarial posts on an on-going permanent basis? I doubt it. Why do it for production pre press?

People with the kind of skills you are looking for would bite your hand off at the moment to be offered a permanent role in your company (I know who you are btw :wink.

The other alternative, and forgive me if this sounds a bit obvious, is to train your current staff. The training cost would predominantly be a one-off cost with minimal on-going cost. It will work out an awful lot cheaper in the long term.

Management in publishing companies, I believe, have always underestimated the potential of their production personnel. They also overestimate how long it may take to learn the skills required to achieve the pre press quality you are looking for.

Sorry to digress from what your original topic, but before you put any proposals forward you have to consider it from your Board's point of view.

[Angela]

Quite easy to work out who I am, Bart, when there's a URL link for my company's website! Not so easy to identify you...!

I hear what you're saying from a board point of view in terms of staffing but have you considered it in terms of investment in equipment?

The attractive part of the sub-contract scenario is not only having ready-trained staff land on your doorstep but also a bunch of kit paid for, supplied and maintained by someone else! A huge consideration for someone like me...

I guess it boils down to how far down the in-house road you want to go. Having witnessed another well-known publishing company go lock, stock down the in-house pre-press route and then struggle to maintain the longevity of the cost savings, I'm all for being creative in my approach!

[Bart]

Yes, being anonymous does have it's advantages, but if it helps you do know me!!

I have also known publishing companies who've brought their pre press in-house using the method you are thinking about and see it all go belly up because it wasn't in the contractor's best interests. :evil:

Achieving your objectives is possible without the investment in high end kit but you need to think way out of the box. Just because nobody has done it before doesn't mean it isn't the best thing to do. :idea:

Maybe one day I'll share it with you :!:

[Angela]

Sorry no time for guessing games today, Bart.
Interesting discussion though and I guess you'll be watching to see which road I go down...