The most important job of a print order manager is...
11 April 2023
Let's talk about print order management! It's an essential process for any print production company, and the print order manager is the key player in making sure everything runs smoothly and the final product is top-notch. In this blog post, we'll chat about how your print order manager keeps his cool, and why is an ERP/MIS so important for "zen" job performance.
1. Understanding the printing process
The print order manager's most important job is making sure every print order meets the customer's expectations. That means they need to know the ins and outs of the printing process from prepress to post-press, including the equipment and materials used and the different printing techniques that can affect the final product's quality.
→ MultiPress ERP/MIS provides the print order manager with a comprehensive view of the process, from prepress to post-press. This visibility enables the manager to identify bottlenecks and optimize the workflow. Additionally, the system can provide insights into the performance of equipment and personnel, allowing the manager to make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency.
2. Working with the customer
The role of a print order manager role is crucial in ensuring that customer needs and expectations are met. Once a quotation becomes an order, it's their job to make sure everything happens as agreed. They act as a liaison between the customer and the production team, communicating clear and concise instructions on the printing job, including paper types, ink options, and finishing details. Plus, they make sure deadlines for artwork submission, proof approval, and final delivery are met. In short, they are the link that makes sure the printing process runs smoothly and efficiently, providing top-notch service and satisfaction to customers.
→ MultiPress is a centralized platform for communication. The manager can use the system to communicate with the customer, share proofs, and get feedback in real-time. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails, streamlines the process, and reduces the risk of errors.
3. Communication, communication, communication!
It's all about communication when it comes to print order management! The print order manager has to be able to talk to everyone involved in the printing process, from the customer to the production team to suppliers. They need to coordinate everything so the printing job is done on time and within budget. That means scheduling the different stages of the printing process and making sure everyone has what they need to get the job done.
→ MultiPress is a dutiful messenger between the print order manager, production team, and suppliers. The system can send alerts when orders are ready, provide real-time updates on production status, and enable the manager to send messages to the team. This improves communication, reduces delays, and helps everyone stay on the same page.
4. Detail-oriented quality control
Finally, quality control is super important in print order management! The print order manager needs to have a sharp eye for detail to catch any errors or defects in the final product. They work with the production team to identify and fix any issues that come up during the printing process, making sure everything is accurate and high-quality.
→ MultiPress provides tools to monitor quality at every stage of the printing process. The system can flag errors or defects, send alerts to the manager, and provide insights into the root cause of the problem. This allows the manager to take corrective action quickly and prevent the same issue from happening again.
5. Order manager 2.0
The world of print production is rapidly advancing with automation and integration of third-party software and hardware. Order managers now directly control print production without the intervention of prepress operators. With features like check and repair on order level and imposition schemes, the order manager can group sign orders per carrier or print run, giving them more control than ever before.
→ MultiPress has taken this to the next level with their Control Cockpit feature, providing a handy interface for order managers to manage the status of projects from approved quotes to production steps. Additionally, MultiFlow helps simplify and automate repetitive tasks, streamlining the work of order managers within the MultiPress environment.
What's your next move?
So there you have it! The print order manager's job is all about making sure the customer is happy, and that means knowing the printing process inside and out, communicating effectively, and keeping a close eye on quality control.
The more your print production company operates according to standardised processes and automated workflows, the more vital the role of the order manager becomes. We call this the "order manager 2.0" who, as a game-changer, can control and monitor the entire production system.
In other words, print order managers are the true zen masters that every print business needs.