Interesting topic, I see valid points from all sides. In our organization we look for what I call a “pride and craftsmanship” quality, not just in the pressroom but everywhere throughout. I think the simplest way for me to define pride and craftsmanship: an individual that cares about what they are doing and the method of how the task is done. I’m not defining this person as a craftsman, just craftsmanship like quality.
Unfortunately... this type of person is difficult to find, companies not just ours but most of manufacturing are left automating processes to fill voids and the skilled are left managing bodies used to operate the automation.
Frustrating.
In my world I cannot hire or even find an individual skilled enough to do the job I need them to do, at the rate I’m allowed to hire, based on the margins in the product (in this case…printing) we are producing, all affected by the capital expense of equipment needed to produce product. The individuals I do have on staff only stay because print is all they know. Our answer is to train from within and maybe one out 15 will work out.
I ask myself, what is the root cause of this, how does one instill the pride and craftsmanship mindset into a limited skilled work force. There is no one answer, education and the proper tools help, but I have learned you cannot change or teach something when a person simply does not care.
And there it is….”don’t care”….Apathy.
Apathy is what I see, at least here. Is there a relationship between apathy in our workforce and the evolution of our technology (cell phone)? Are we being taught…trained…. to respond with happiness to instant social gratification and escape vs. the gratification from doing a job….any job… well done? I know… I’m on the deep end and way off topic but I see a correlation at least with the people I deal with on a day to day basis.
What does the print industry do? How does our industry bring in new talent? How’s the work life balance? What does the print factory offer to bring in the new talent that a decent manufacturing conglomerate does not? I can tell you first hand, not much! Go to a local career fair and see for yourself, you’ll be amazed ( I was).
For me, I started in pressrooms at 16 years old. Growing up, my best friend’s dad was a pressman running a Miller. Over the years I moved on and up to running the show. That brings me to almost 30 years in this industry, print is all I know.
6 years ago, inspired by a brow beating boss and 60 to 70+ hour work weeks, I realized I need to know more and enrolled in an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program, VCU. I finish up next year and will be moving on, will I stay in print? Not sure.
The world has changed, the print industry is in commoditization and continues to do so. I don’t like it, but I cannot stop it. This will not change and explains why successful operations diversify to offer other services: large format, digital etc. and streamline their operations to where a worker and its product will be ok as long as we take the skill out of the process.
Anyway… Great comments from all, Erik as someone who is obsessed with engineering I have enjoyed your posts for years. Gordo, thank you I have used your blog to settle many an argument regarding screen angles! D Ink Man hope you are well, glad to see you're still posting.
Mike