Pittsburgh, PA – Today, the Printing Industries of America unveils the Improvement Professional in Print (IPP) certification program. This unique new certification validates the expertise of printing industry professionals who help companies achieve operational excellence using lean manufacturing and other process improvement practices. Based on the principles of increasing customer satisfaction, speeding production and reducing costs and waste, the IPP certification recognizes those individuals who apply lean and continuous improvement techniques within their organization to address the challenges of the ever-evolving print industry.

Among the first to demonstrate their continuous improvement mastery and become IPP Certified will be a team of fourteen Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. print solutions analysts and managers. “Konica Minolta wants to be the first to take part in the IPP certification program because we believe that the application of process improvement is a cornerstone of a sound and profitable printing business,” said Dino Pagliarello, Vice President, Product Management and Planning.

The prerequisites for the Improvement Professional in Print certification program require that an individual must have at least two years of experience working for a printing services company and be able to cite at least one specific example of how they have implemented improvement in an organization. To become IPP certified, one must complete the certification exam developed by the top industry experts in the areas of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions delivered online through the IPP website. Successfully passing the exam with an 80% or better score requires significant background and knowledge in quality improvement practices.  

As a companion piece to the IPP Certification Program, Printing Industries of America has also compiled a body of knowledge to help individuals prepare to take the examination. This includes seven self-paced online classes delivered by industry experts John Compton, Dr. Malcolm Keif and Dr. Kevin Cooper. It also includes three books, Lean Printing: Pathway to Success, Lean Printing: Cultural Imperatives for Success, and Setup Reduction for Printers. For more information about the IPP certification program visit the Improvement Professional in Print website at www.printing.org/IPP.