Joan Grace recently marked 10 years as chief executive of PrintNZ Training. She took time to consider on changes she has seen during that decade: changes in technology, changes in government policy for training, and changes in industry training in general
Changes in technology are ongoing and help ensure that print remains an effective means of communication. To help illustrate evolving technology, I refer to my photobook with photos of our grandsons and family. The buyers, who ordered the book online, were able to add their creative touch by choosing different templates. At the click of a button, they sent the file to be digitally printed, packed and posted. Ten years ago, web-based ordering was still under development and colour digital printing was just starting to make its presence known.Digital is still a growing sector of the industry but technology has also advanced a long way when it comes to offset presses, which are now faster, more efficient, with increased automation and a reduced impact on the environment. There is talk about electronic displacement of print to web with publications now available online, but many print items cannot be displaced to the web – for example billboards point of sale, packaging, product labels and many other items produced by the print industry.
Looking at the PrintNZ membership base, we see companies diversifying and offering a wider range of print related services. We see fewer pre-press and print finishing specialists with these services offered in-house by the majority of commercials printers as an end-to-end print solution. In many instances, commercial printers are providing packaging solutions and sign makers are offering digital services and so competing with the wide format sector. The consolidation of businesses that has taken place in New Zealand is the same that we have witnessed worldwide, such as the emergence of corporate group structures such as BSPG and Geon.
Changing the focus to government policy, there have been few major changes to industry training policy since the early 1990s when the core structure was set in place. Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) are seen as the leadership bodies with the role of setting industry training standards and ensuring that training arrangements work for the industry. This includes getting on-going feedback from the industry to ensure the relevance of the training available.
The new national government promises to support, “the huge contribution that quality apprenticeships make to the New Zealand economy”, while there is continuing support for industry training, the government also wants results (completions) – what they see as value for their spend. There is also a government focus on literacy skills and productivity in the workplace, something we are already working towards.
Looking at changes in print industry training over the past decade, the most noticeable is the increase in numbers - 380 people at the end of 1999 compared with over 600 today. Compared to the ITOs with thousands of apprentices and trainees we are one of the smallest, but we are also one of the best, with research showing training completions in the print industry being very high in comparison to other industries.
As technology has evolved, there has been a significant shift in people training in the traditional areas of sheet-fed and reel-fed printing, to more training in digital areas and fibreboard packaging.
Over the years, there has been a strong commitment from employers in the print industry to take part in industry training and provide their employees with the knowledge and skills needed to do their jobs well. This is something we as an industry should be very proud of, as it benefits all involved.
In the print industry, we need people with the right skills, attitude and initiative to help steer our businesses into the future.
Progress has been made on improving the image of print but there is still much work to be done in this area. We all need to play a role in promoting the positives of using print and paper as an effective communications tool.
Looking to the future many print sectors will continue to be challenged by other technologies – the likes of web-based media. Our focus has to be on what we can provide with print, and also on how print can work with the competition.
I am proud to be part of our vibrant industry – I may not be a printer but after 10 years in the industry, the ink is definitely flowing through my veins.
