Consultants Help Foster Innovation
Sometimes, all you need for innovation is a jump start and a fresh perspective. You know your operation is staffed with bright, talented, creative individuals. In short, you know your operation is ready to incorporate new technology and you are ready to grow – you just need the resources to get the project off the ground. Fortunately, outside consultants can provide those resources along with a fresh way of looking at things, based on expertise from around the industry.
The fact is, print technology, like virtually all other technology, is changing at a rapid pace. At the same time, cost pressures are ratcheting up on all kinds of organizations. While the latter means many organizations are looking to lean more heavily on their in-plants to help cut costs, the former makes it difficult to stay on top of industry best practices as they seemingly change from day to day. That’s where third-party consultants come in.
It’s their job to know what’s going on in the industry and how your operation can get out in front of those trends. For example, bringing every aspect of your organization’s multi-channel marketing campaign in-house is a great new business opportunity for you. But has your shop had to run a multi-channel campaign before? Do you have the processes in place to keep each channel running smoothly and effectively? Will you be using different devices for similar content in new ways – meaning color calibration has to be perfectly in sync between them? These questions are fundamental to your ability to handle this new work, but being able to answer them in the affirmative requires expertise or preconditions your shop just never has had to meet before. That’s where seasoned experts – that is, third-party consultants – come in.
That’s why when I meet in-plant managers, I urge them: don’t hesitate. Innovate. Let outside consultants who have a broad view of the industry give your team the information and guidance they need to make the most of their abilities and grow your business.
Debbie Pavletich is the Director of the Business Consulting Practice in the Commercial & Industrial Printing Business Group of Ricoh USA, Inc. As an in-plant print industry expert, she partners with clients to identify opportunities within their organizations to implement technologies that help minimize cost, streamline processes, increase throughput, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen and communicate business value. Her customer-centered approach and experience leading print industry teams enables her to collaboratively develop solutions that are in alignment with organizational objectives.
With more than 35 years of industry experience, Pavletich’s previous work includes managing a world-class in-plant printing department at Briggs & Stratton Corp. where she was responsible for strategic planning, finances, purchasing, capital equipment implementation, and sales and marketing initiatives. Other accomplishments include early adoption and successful deployment of leading-edge technologies, and initiating a successful sales effort to external customers.
As a subject matter specialist on in-plant operations management Pavletich has delivered presentations on a wide range of industry topics, including the value of in-plant operations, color management, work flow and the implementation of software and equipment that reduced costs, improved efficiencies, and provided additional revenue.
Pavletich has a certificate in management from Marquette University and has completed comprehensive finance coursework at the University of Chicago. She has served as Vendor Representative and International President of the IPMA (In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association), and President of the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Board of Directors.
