"How to Improve In-Plant Performance" offers practical guide to using financial, operational, and customer satisfaction measurements.
 
East Rutherford, N.J. - A proactive approach to improving in-plant performance can pay off in many ways, and a new white paper from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) offers a practical guide to a variety of improvement strategies. Authored by NAPL Senior Consultant Howie Fenton, "How to Improve In-Plant Performance" covers a broad range of performance-enhancing ideas, metrics, and proven tactics.

Based on the field experience of NAPL Business Advisory Team consultants who have helped hundreds of in-plants improve performance, the 32-page white paper offers a clear and thorough explanation of how in-plant managers and in-plant parent company executives can measure and enhance in-plant performance. After using this guide to plan and conduct an objective evaluation, in-plant leaders will have a better understanding of:

• Competitive pricing and financial break-even points.
• Manufacturing tools for greater automation and increased customer value.
• How to measure customer satisfaction and value perception.
• The quality and delivery of current products.
• New products that could fulfill emerging needs based on customer feedback.
• The best practices of leading in-plant operations.
• How to determine whether to maintain, expand, or close an in-plant operation.

 "In-plant directors and managers recognize the importance of keeping their operations in peak condition, and measurement is key to doing so," says Fenton, who has conducted scores of in-plant evaluations. "Performance data and benchmarking are also the best tools to counter attacks by outsourcers or facilities management firms that claim they can do the work more productively and at less cost.
 
"In-plants shouldn't wait until they're under the gun to measure performance," adds Fenton, explaining that the new guide introduces in-plants to a proactive process of measuring performance.
 
And measurement is only the first step, he explains. "Just as important is using performance data to build and implement an effective improvement plan, and this guide also offers suggestions for how to use data for that purpose. Even if an in-plant is doing well," he says, "there are areas that can be enhanced, or new services and value to consider adding."
 
In-plant directors and managers may download the new publication, "How to Improve In-Plant Performance," at no charge from the NAPL website. Visit http://www.naplinplantwhitepaper.com/ for your copy or contact Donna Komlo at (800) 642-6275, Ext. 6345, or [email protected] for more information.