One important aspect in printing presses is the ink density. Process capability (the ability of the process to meet customer requirements) can be assessed using questions of the kind that follow.

1. Does your printing result in consistent ink film thickness both

across and around the drum?

2. Is your densitometer calibrated and consistently checked?

3. Have you determined the specification limits for the inks in questions? (how far can the density shift up/down before the pressman must make an adjustment? - these upper and lower ink densities will be your upper and lower specification limits.)

Now what are the chances that your printing shall remain with this specification limits? If the chances are 100%, you have got a wonderful process going. But if you know the practical sources of variation in this field, you would know that the print thickness does sometimes go out of specification. And each time that happens you have one the three possibilities.

1.Defective output leading to rework that is extra cost.

2.Customer returns or dissatisfaction which can mean lost of future business.

3.Competitor getting advantage over you in the next review by customer, although customer does not state his

dissatisfaction.

Six Sigma, in this technical process, is about meeting requirements first time and every time. If you are in

the printing industry, this may be just one of your concern areas. Working scientifically in each of these areas using world best, tried and tested management techniques shall lead to wonderful business benefits. And that is Six Sigma advantage for you.

Note -

If you are doing lithographic or 'digital' printing you may want to check out the process

control pages at http://www.gain.net (the Printing industries / Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) site.

If you are working in flexography, have a look at http://www.flexography.org (The Flexographic Technical Association) site.

Do reply to this post if you wish to discuss more on this topic.

Can you provide the Six Sigma for the Pre-Press?

Using wikipedia as a source, you can notice that Pre-Press includes

the following -

• Typesetting involves the presentation of textual material in graphic form on paper or some other medium. Before the advent of desktop publishing, typesetting of printed material was produced in print shops by compositors or typesetters working by hand, and later with machines.
  

• Copy-editing, is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of a manuscript.Copy-editing is done prior to the work of proofreaders, who handle documents before final publication.
  

• Markup is an artificial language using a set of annotations to text that give instructions regarding the structure of text or how it is to be displayed. Markup languages have been in use for centuries, and in recent years have also been used in computer typesetting and word-processing systems.
  

• Proofing involves creating an accurate facsimile of the artwork before beginning production runs. This serves as a bond between the printer and their customer that the final product meets an agreed upon standard. Proofs in general can be done for all parts (images, illustrations, texts and colors) of print product. In this part, three types of proofing should be checked and printed out: the print-ready PDF files, the printer's proof and the imposition proof. Print-ready PDF files should be made after the layout using preflight at the printing house. The printer's proof should be printed out in high-resolution and checked by the customer. The imposition proof, which is usually done by the printers, should also be printed out to check and adjust the printing press.
  

• Proofreading traditionally means reading a proof copy of a text in order to detect and correct any errors. Modern proofreading often requires reading copy at earlier stages as well.
  

• Screening and adjustment of a continuous-tone of images such as photographs
  

• Imposition, or the combination of many pages into a single signature form. Separation, or specifying images or text to be put on plates applying individual printing media (inks, varnishes, etc.) to a common print. Manufacturing of plates The usage of different materials of plates should meet the needs of printing method. Usually rubber, plastic,aluminum are used for plates as well as film which is the photomechanical exposure and processing of light-sensitive emulsion on a printing plate. Manufacturing of plates should be well planned and delivered beforehand. Also, the cost should be calculated as well. Manufacturing of a high-quality print (PDF) file, which is used for the final printing. Paper select, choosing a proper paper is also a very important step in prepress.
  

You may apply Six Sigma to pre-press activities if you identify chronic pain areas in any of the steps.

 

Hello, I have finished my GB and would like to do a project in textile printing department in which I'm into now. Since we are depending on job order, every time the order quantity, printing size, printing design, printing colors and fabric itself keeps on changing. So , how far it is possible to implement?. Also , only few orders repeat. 

hi VK

first of all i would like to thank you that i finally found a thread related to printing industry, because i know not many people are aware of this industry and those who are, dont have an idea how big and dynamic this industry is.

Being a printing engineer and working as a quality incharge in one of the leading newspapers of the country for the last two years, it makes sense for me to go for a green belt certification.

My worry is what area can be focussed upon for project.?

once m through with the topic i can attend a green belt pogram.

regards

anshuman

A pain area needs to be identified that is suitable for Six Sigma application. Please have a look at "What is Six Sigma?" section for this.