Getting funding for training

[Rob]

Hi Guys,

I wonder if anyone could advise me on how to, or where to, get funding for industry courses (which are mostly very expensive). I've identified an ISO Litho course here in the UK that I'm very interested to get on - it's near enough £800 for 2days (inc. hotel and expenses), but has 3months phone support for implementing the ISO 12647-2 standard. The company I work for isn't really hearing my requests for training so I've decided to take matters into my own hands and try for a grant so I can keep moving forward. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever found themselves in a similar situation and would ask which associations they found to be of help...

Thanks

[steveagfa]

Rob:

Have you outlined the goals for the program...
what's the ROI for your management?

faster make-ready, less waste
better reprint consistency
etc.

You could propose a simple saving - perhaps 5 minutes per job -
times the number of jobs per year = training funding.

[Rob]

Hi Steve, thanks for the reply.

Yes - I have mentioned the fact that we are losing... a hefty some that I won't disclose on here... per month, due to a) Digital Colour definition against supplied proofs and b) process control, stability and operational practices. I have explained that tightening up with an industrial strength system will help save money (I've given both figures and projections) and help with customer negotiation - as a recognised ISO standard. Without labouring the point I have come to the conclusion that I am "pissing into the wind".

It's a chicken and egg thing really: I don't have the necessary insight yet which is why I want to go on the course!

Hope this clarifies the situation - I do understand the companys position, which is why I'm seeking independent funding. This will hopefully work out to be of benefit to the company as well as myself...

[steveagfa]

Rob:

Not specific to your situation, but perhaps industry-wide,
too often we have blinkers on (or blinders on) when it
comes to in-plant waste and inefficiencies...

Frank Romano did a study over here where he
broke down the typical costs associated with print.

1 or 2% was plate and chemistry costs;

31% was paper and ink.

Design services, labor and capital equipment
made up over 50%,

10% was associated waste.

And, of that 25% that comprises labor costs,
perhaps 20% of that is mundane tasks that can be
automated, letting the skilled workers do what they
were hired to do.

So, here one is staring at about 15% of overall cost
that is associated with waste and mundane... and yet
we are not able to take time to plug those leaks, and
learn how to be more efficient. We're the 4th largest
industry, and yet the 50th in profitability.

SOS

[Bart]

At Ipex in April I was at a conference that had Bernard Scherier (Sp!) from Heidelberg as a speaker. I've been at several of his talks and I like his ability 'to see over the trees'. His company is heading up shit creek without a paddle but he talks a good talk regardless.

When asked what the future for the print industry was he kept coing back to teaching your employees about basic economics and acounts - cost vs ROI etc etc

As opposed to employees just going to management with their hands out looking for something. Go to management with a prepared costing and benefit analysis.

Put your views, with costing/savings, in writing Rob and give it to the financial head, the production head and sales head. One of them must be able to see the benefit of training you/your team to deliver on cutting waste. Putting it in writing and giving it to more than one person means they have to do something about it. Spoken words mean nothing.

If they still won't budge then you should wonder whether the company has a viable future in the medium to long term and maybe look elsewhere where they can see the benefit of training.

Good luck!

[Rob]

Thanks again for the replies guys, I can see that you're both industry veterans with perhaps the political saavy that I have yet to acquire.

Steve - interesting stats, I don't know who Frank Romano is (perhaps I should...?) but I'm going to go and find out! I guess you're in an executive position to be in the loop? Out of interest, what trade press and information streams are you on and how much time do you have to spend studying the industry? I'm struggling with keeping abreast of PrintWeek alone at the moment, there's just so much to take in.

Bart - I can't help feeling a little sheepish when comparing your quote 'to see over the trees' to mine: 'to piss into the wind'. I'd better get the climbing gear out I went to Ipex in April also (my first visit) - I was the only non-managerial staff member to go. I went down on a Saturday independently of the company, though I did ask to go. I was a bit daunted by all the executives at work but it was well worth getting out of bed for. Just wish I could be more centred on the action sometimes. Agreed - I need to learn how to compile proper business reports with ROI plans. The only problem I face is how to get savvy enough in the first place without being able to train. I'm working a three shift system you see so I can't really do an evening class. I mainly fall back on the studies I did during my BA course.

Thanks for your help guys!

[Bart]

Rob,

There's only one thing you need to get to grips with really and that's MS Excel. Use the wizard help if you need it but to honest if you can get your head round workflows you can master Excel no problems.

Don't worry about fancy reports. The less clutter the better, let the figures do all the talking.

Cost out the wastage over twelve monthly columns. Cost out the savings over the same period. Cost of training = x. Savings = y. Profit to company bottom line = y - x. QED.

If you need help you know where I am.

[steveagfa]

Rob -

My introduction is in these archives...

http://www.prepressforums.com/ftopict-4298.html\

Frank is an industry veteran and spokesperson, recently retired from
his academic position at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), one
of the few premier universities in North America that have a print
media program.

As you can see by my "title", I am in marketing,
and it is my job to be in touch with the market -
at all levels. (Of, course - I do other things -
although some would argue otherwise.)

As for sites - this here is a good one... for info streams -
you might also want to subscribe to www.whattheythink.com

You must also realize that one of my responsibilities is to
evangelize our JDF and web-enabled production management
solutions - Delano. This has given me a painful look at waste.

On the positive side, I've seen tremendous swings in
profitability for those who have embraced our production
management system. To quote one of our earlier Delano
users here in the States... "There is no way you can be
competitive in the long term without Delano."

I'd get trashed if I said that myself... - so, perhaps I should
qualify that quote. - How about - Without a program to
drive-out waste, remove redundancies and increase
operational efficiencies... there is no way one can remain
competitive, or for that matter, remain in business. -

You see it every week, or day with the PrintWeek daily
news bulletin...

[steveagfa]

Rob -

I'm sure there are training resources over there with PIRA.

Here, I just got an e-mail from IPA, advertising their
color management training resources (on sale!).

http://www.ipa.org/knowledge/webinars/summer.php

Good Luck.

[Rob]

I'm quite into excel, it's just the formatting for business and accountants that I'm not too aufait with - I'll follow your formula on this one Bart.

Steve - I've visited whattheythink.com previously - I'll see how expensive it is to subscribe to. I've had a few archived webinars from there that were quite interesting.

Incidentally I visited PIRA the other day - they've got some great books and publications, very expensive mind! I'll certainly have a look at what they've got on offer in terms of training.

I've not seen the IPA before - I've added this to my link-base.

well thanks for your help guys, I'll be talking on the forum more often I think.