Melbourne’s Eastern Press has become the latest company to adopt competitive manufacturing practices signing up for Printing Industries Lean and Green program.

The 18 month program is being run by Printing Industries training partner SkilledForce which currently has more than 40 companies around Australia on the program.

Referred to as Lean manufacturing or competitive manufacturing, the program takes a whole of business approach to reduce costs, increase profits, improve customer service and enhance quality by identifying and removing all forms of waste, whether it’s time and process waste to handling and material waste.

Eastern Press has also just completed Printing Industries Sustainable Green Print environmental certification program to Level Two ensuring that their environmental credentials meet industry best practice.

Eastern Press owner Frank Hilliard said that being innovative and proactive was the best way he knew of being a viable printing company in an increasingly competitive market.

“Implementing both the lean manufacturing training and Sustainable Green Print certification at the same time as installing new equipment makes complete sense to us,” he said.

Mr Hilliard said the company had recently installed a HP Indigo Digital Press and was placing an order for a Heidelberg XL75 for installation in December.

Eastern Press General Manager Cormac Deffely, said both programs provided the opportunity to significantly improve overall efficiency and productivity compatible with environmental responsibilities.”

“We feel we are now well positioned for a bright and exciting future,” he said.

Competitive manufacturing is bringing benefits to a cross section of industry companies including commercial sheet-fed, labels, digital and web.

Printing Industries can assist with government incentives potentially making implementation cost neutral as well as delivering a company-wide embedded framework for sustainable improvement.

Participating companies include:
NSW: Labelcraft, Planet Press, Lindsay Yates Group, Rawson Graphics, GEON Group, TMA Group. Victoria: Lithocraft, Bambra Press, Labelhouse, Mystique, Lakeside Packaging. Western Australia: Picton Press, Quality Press, GEON Group, Lamb Print, Crystal Printing. South Australia: Lane Print Group, Multi-Colour, E.S. Wigg & Sons, CCL Clear Image. Queensland: GEON Group.

Information is available by contacting Ian Walz on (02) 8789 7362 E: ian@printnet.com.au or www.leanandgreen.com.au