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Do You Want to Make Your Downtime Productive Time?

Not Enough Time in Your Day?
We all have the same 24 hours a day to work with.
No more, no less. So why do some people always seem
to get more done?

Here's a simple tip that will punch up your productivity.
Most printers are pretty good at scheduling. When there's
work in the shop, it's scheduled and prioritized.
So far, so good.

When we're busy it seems we'll never get a break, so
the natural response is to relax a bit and take that break.
However, this is valuable time that should not be wasted.

According to Kevin Carey of DieInfo Inc., "The problem is
few companies plan for these periods and as a result,
this valuable time is squandered on non-critical activity.
Professional companies have contingency plans for slack times
and immediately implement a prioritized list of activities and
scheduled projects, already allocated to individuals and teams."

The common response to downtime is to clean the machines,
sweep the floors, maybe oil something and generally just look busy.
While somewhat useful, it's too casual to be a productive use of time.

Instead, create a plan of slack time activities that will help
improve production for the next busy time. This can include
administrative, production or training activities. Some examples:

• Create a list of questions for brainstorming sessions in each department
  
• Conduct a tool, parts and supplies inventory
• Set up a standard maintenance procedure and schedule
• Create standard operating procedures for all processes in the plant
• Organize a tool and parts storage system
• Inspect and repair equipment
• Throw out old, worn, useless parts
• Cross train staff on different equipment and in different departments
• Conduct departmental training

There is no limit to the list. The key is to pre-plan and prioritize.
When it slows down, each employee goes right to his list.
No unnecessary questions or discussion.

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We Have a Winner in Our Survey Drawing!
Laura Lockett of Cal State University in Sacramento,
whose print department uses EZ-Fit Tri-Creasers on their
Baumfolder, won the iPod Touch in our recent survey drawing.
Thanks to Laura and everyone else who participated!

Here's a very interesting, uplifting statistic to ponder:
Of the nearly 700 respondents, 91.8% said they were
satisfied in their jobs. Compare that to a just-released
survey from the Conference Board Research Group that
shows only 45% of Americans are satisfied in their work.

So what does it mean? Are printers twice as happy?
Perhaps it's the type of people our industry attracts.
It could be a statistical glitch.
I prefer to believe it's because our readers are a
select group who realize that we make our own happiness,
no matter what our circumstances.
What do you think?

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Point of View
The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.
Zig Ziglar


One of the great lessons in life
is to know that even fools are right sometimes.
Winston Churchill

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Re-entry Into the Work Force
If you have been laid off for some time, but will start a new job
soon, strengthen your skills by reading industry blogs and
trade publications. If your expertise is out of date, bone up.

If you are going with a new company, be prepared for emotional
volatility, says The Wall Street Journal. It's not easy being the
new person, especially if your self-confidence took a hit
during unemployment.

It's a tough question, but ask yourself why you were one of
those who was laid off. It probably wasn't your fault, but consider
how you could have made yourself more valuable and
more productive before it happened.

Huge Tax Benefit That May Not be Renewed...a Reminder!!
Section 179 deductions...sounds boring but it can save you a
ton of dough if you simply take advantage. What it says, according
to the IRS, is that if you buy or lease equipment and place it
into service before the year end, you can deduct the full
amount from your gross income for 2008, even if you don't
start paying until next year.

Click Here for an online calculator to do some what-if
scenarios. (Scroll to bottom of page.) Of course, check with
your accountant as you would with any financial decision.
You'll see the advantages are tremendous and depending on
your tax bracket, investments this year will give you large
cash savings.

"Buy + Refi"
Leasing companies are also very creative. Most will let you
make a purchase of a new or used piece of equipment, then
roll an existing lease or loan into a new lease/loan with
lower interest rates and longer terms.

Deferred Payments
If for instance, you don't start paying until March 2010,
you still get the equipment delivered this year and
you still get the Section 179 savings this year. Most
leasing companies are offering some deferred payment plan.

Bottom line is, you've got some powerful leverage
available...it's one of the few things our leaders have
done right. We all know the odds of them taking
away something really useful to the economy and
the country are pretty good, so I urge you not to
delay if you're even close to a purchase.

Talk to your leasing or loan company, or reply to this
email for a few referrals of companies who specialize
in this.
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Help Wanted
Experienced folder operator wanted in Tampa FL.
Should have experience in glue folding. Night shift 10pm to 6am.
Company offers paid health insurance after 90 days,
401k with 3% employer contribution after 1 year,
one week vacation after one year.
Relaxed, casual work atmosphere.
Contact Ron Sheldon (813) 886-5597 x 237
or email rsheldon@ammsusa.com
If you have a Help Wanted or a Situation Wanted
position, we'll list it at no cost both here and in the
print version of Bindery Success, space permitting.
Just reply to this email or forward your listing to
classified@technifoldusa.com
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Point of View
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions
of our childish days; that can recall to the old the pleasures
of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveler,
thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home.
Charles Dickens


An obstacle in life is like a log in your path.
You could step over it.
You could move it out of the way.
Or you could cut it up and make firewood.
Unknown

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Chance to Win an iPod...Take this Quick, 7-Question Survey
Complete this brief, 7-question survey and you're entered in
a drawing to win an iPod Touch 32gb, or a $250 Gift Card
from Amazon. Drawing held December 21...
just in time for Christmas!

PLUS...we'll ship your next order with Technifold USA
via FedEx ground at no charge to you.
Simply complete the survey here:
Click Here to Take Survey and Enter Drawing

It's quick, easy and your answers are completely anonymous.
Once your survey is complete, simply enter your email
address to get the shipping credit and automatically enter.

How to Trim Problem Paper -- Happy Thanksgiving

An Attitude of Gratitude...
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Technifold USA!


"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands,
because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have
we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have
something else or something more."  Brother David Steindl-Rast

We'll be CLOSED for the holiday
Thursday Nov 26th and Friday Nov 27th
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How to Trim Problem Paper

In the perfect world, every sheet of paper is perfectly square
and each sheet is the same as the next. In our world, we
know this to be perhaps the exception. Maybe the paper
wasn't stored right, maybe it distorted after printing,
maybe it's a deckle edge sheet, the converter did a
lousy job...etc.

Whatever the reason, sometimes you're faced with having
to trim a job where sheet-to-sheet register seems
impossible when guillotine cutting. The recommended
solution is to obviously trim the stock before printing.
Sometimes this is just not possible...you've just got to
print the full sheet as it is.

Aside from die-cutting the piece, there is a way to
deal with this. Andrew Brennan of Delaware submitted this
tip and I've used a variation on this myself. A warning from
Andrew and me: use extreme care and if your paper
cutter manufacturer does not recommend doing this,
or they have an alternative solution, and by all means
follow their suggestions to avoid personal or machine
damage and inury! Common sense should prevail.

First: Construct or buy a hardwood wedge and insert it
in the cutter backgauge at the exact point
where the side guide would have pulled the sheet.
(image below)














Place magnetic strips on the cutter side at points
where the grippers would have grabbed the sheet.
Be sure both the wedge and the strips go
completely to the bottom of the cutter table so
sheets don't slide underneath, and you don't want
them to ride above either. Then make your first cut.

Next, rotate the stock as shown below to cut away
the tail of the sheet opposite the gripper.














Now you have two square edges to work with.
Depending on the job, you might carefully finish the cutting
while leaving all the objects in OR you might do
these first two cuts, set the lifts aside and do the
final trimming in a second pass. In either case,
don't forget to remove all objects before continuing
on to the next job.

This technique works surprisingly well, but let's hope
you don't have to pull it out of the hat too often!

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Point of View
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all other virtues.
Cicero


What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside
on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.
I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?
Erma Bombeck