Former Director at Consolidated Graphics Personally Managed Over 70 Different, Major, Technology Remodels 

SpotlightPro Includes Employee and Customer Culture Assessments in Solution Recommendations

Sawatzki's Unmatched Perspective Results in Realistic, Yet Powerful, Solutions

At SpotlightPro, Sawatzki marries

• IT education, 
• 20+ years of prepress and print technology experience (including hundreds of on-site consultations), 
• a carefully selected network of outstanding programmers and scriptwriters for as-needed support[2],
• comprehensive understanding of employee and customer cultures, 
• the company mission, and 
• external factors (e.g., economic trends, moves to cross media use);            

to insure that print companies realize their full manufacturing workflow potential. 

"Understanding the cultural variables that make up every firm's individual environment," Sawatzki says, "is equally important as evaluating its production conditions."

Safe!

Sawatzki Says Print Has Right-Sized

The 2008 recession and rapid moves to cross-media use have both severely impacted printers. While Sawatzki agrees that "print is no longer the driving media", he says it is "a critical part of a bigger plan." Print companies that are still operating, he says, are the ones who understand that there will always be a place for the best printers. 

"The only place for people who want to be in print is at the top, or you will be one of the downsized," he continues. "You have to stay competitive. Constant improvements, including and especially those in automation and cross-functional processing, will keep the best shops competitive in the marketplace." 

When to Call a Consultant 

Sawatzki says many signs indicate a need to look for, and fix, bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Ultimately, he says, the company is restricted in some way; with labor and technology restrictions most typical. Another indicator is the amount of spoilage the company is generating. 

The SpotlightPro Experience

SpotlightPro service includes expert analysis/assessment, recommendations, and custom implementations, including training. The company is not tied to any suppliers or their distributors in any way, which insures objectivity and flexibility.

An important difference between SpotlightPro and other consulting firms is Sawatzki's belief that a company's culture must be considered very seriously throughout every stage of change. He considers the job of getting the team on board part of his work. "Decisions about technology changes are only good if the team is part of the process," he says. "When I go in to a shop, I make sure the production team knows that I've been where they are, and I explore the benefits of the company's options with them. 

"When the rubber hits the road, I've got to be on their side, and make sure their voice is heard by the CEO.  Any other approach defeats the whole purpose." 

The mission must resonate powerfully with customers and prospects, so that they, too, feel compelled to be a part of the excitement and success such a mission will create.

"I once arrived at dawn because a truck was delivering a press to one of my clients," Sawatzki says. "I had coffee in my hand and was half-asleep, hoping that someone from the third shift would hear me ringing the bell. The truck drove in, and backed up toward the loading dock just as I turned the corner. I was blown away - not only was management and half of the staff standing and clapping as the driver put the truck in park, but to my shock, three of their customers were there, too.

"They were all excited, because they had all been part of the decisions we made, together," Sawatzki says. 

To reach Cory Sawatzki at SpotlightPro, call 1-701-404-SPOT (7768) or email  [email protected].