It is a great privilege to be asked here this evening.
Why am I here?
My first reaction, when asked, was that, I’m too young! Then I thought, well, maybe I’m too old!
That this sums up the printing industry – a harmonious blend of the old and the new. And THAT, is what makes it such an exciting industry to be in right now!
Tonight I’d like to cover 3 main topics –
- Who am I, and what am I doing here?
- What’s so good about this Industry?
- There are no bad employees, only bad bosses!
First, who and what am I?
My origins in the print industry, go back about 130 years (to the 1870’s) when my great-grandfather began his apprenticeship, at the age of 13, in England. He subsequently migrated to Sydney at the age of 21 as a Master Printer (a compositor) where he began his working life in various firms before setting up his own small printery, in Sydney in 1903.
His name was Walter James (I). His son, my grandfather, was Walter James (II). His son, my father, was Walter James (III). I am Walter James (IV), and guess what, we have a son called … Walter James (V). I don’t want you to think that all printers are as unimaginative as that!
I would however like to share with you one of those amazing coincidences. My great grandfather stood here, on this dias, 75 years ago – in this same Turner Hall! (who said the printing industry was guilty of rapid change!) – giving out prizes to the grauating apprentices of 1927. He was performing this role in his capacity as V-P of the then, Master Printers’ Association of NSW.
So you can see the printing industry has a rich heritage, not just of Cryers, but of other great names, such as Penfolds and McMillans. ( Some of you may be amused to learn that my great-grandfather, on this night 75 years ago presented a prize to a certain young “J S McMillan”!)
These days, my own focus, as a recruiter, is more on the “people” component of the industry, rather than on the technical aspects.
You apprentices of today, however, belong to a very exclusive club - the endangered-species brigade. This year’s intake is one of the lowest ever, and sadly, is part of a long-term trend.
Which brings me to –
What’s so good about this funny, old business?
There is no question our industry is going through the most rapid period of change ever in its 400-odd years. It’s enjoyed virtual monopoly status, and over that period has acquired some bad habits, like being a bit complacent to change.
There are probably many “things” that are all contributing to this turmoil, but the one I wish to focus on is the battle or transition as the industry moves from a “craft-based” mentality, towards having a more “commercially-minded” outlook.
The real culprit - or driving force - behind all this, is the push towards digitisation. “Digitisation” is nothing more than the capture and management of bits of data, so they can be arranged, or re-arranged in any way.
We may also call it the “de-personalisation” of print – but this is the reality of today!
I’m not just referring to “digital presses” which are the visible manifestation. I’m talking about “digitisation” as a process that is pervading the industry – in every function on the factory-floor, especially including the new pre-press “workflow” systems. It is this digitisation that is transforming it into the industry of tomorrow.
This is the dilemma confronting us as an industry (i.e., the move away from craft-hood) -
- Should we go for “high quality/slow delivery”, or “fast turnaround/adequate quality”?
- Should we strive for “perfection”, or just for “commercially acceptable”?
For the tradesman 100 years ago there was no issue. You were an artisan with an uncompromising attitude to craftsmanship, at any cost. (Don’t knock this attitude, as it delivered the great achievements of that era – ships, sculptures, and buildings.
Like all “new” technologies however, digitisation is a mixed blessing.
But! It brings so many exciting, value-adding opportunities; it is nothing short of a salvation for the printing industry.
This is all good news if you are 17 or 27. It’s not so good if you’re 47, or over. Digitisation however is the “enabling” force that has propelled or “kick-started” our industry into an exciting new era, where it can work alongside other technologies, such as the internet, not as a threat, but as a partner.
Let me quote from the new head of Australia’s giant print group, PMP –
“Print is undoubtedly an effective medium … recognised …by publishers, by retailers, by corporates and by government … and while that is not to say there are not other channels … print will remain central, simply because it has been proven to be effective.”
He went on to say, “As internet penetration continues and … broadband becomes more widely available, the internet will grow as an effective medium … complementary to print.”
Thus increasingly, communications will be a “blend” of different media, not just one.
- One such example, is an internet-based marketing concept that will allow you to inter-actively specify your preferred products or services - say travel plans or a selection of wines - on your home-computer, and 2 days later a custom-printed brochures arrive in your letter-box containing information specific to your requirements.
- Another, is right on our doorstep, in the production of the “SMH”, where all the copy and pics are prepared in the CBD and sent to Chullora by microwave, line-of-sight beam through the ether, where the signal is captured and converted into plates and printed. And it actually receives most of its pictorial images from around the world via the internet in the first place.
- How many realise there is a printing company in sleepy little Kiama, that prints copies of British newspapers simultaneously as they’re being printed in the UK, as they receive the same encrypted signal, beamed around the globe.
I hope I have convinced you that we really do live in a multi-media environment, in which printing is proudly playing an integral role.
It’s a SERVICE industry, a MANUFACTURING industry, a COMMUNICATIONS industry all rolled into one, with a huge need for IT support and fuelled by a creative energy, i.e. the graphic design process.
Let me finally quote from another source, from the year of ’29, the same year as you-know-who dished out the prizes –
“It must be a wonderful trade, after all. It has a firm grip on, or [is] linked with every profession, art, science, trade, virtue or vice. It serves every man or woman, be they angel or scoundrel …”. How some things never change!
Now let’s get to the exciting part –
There Are No Bad Employees - Only Bad Bosses!
My point here, is that to grow and survive as an industry, we don’t only need better quality printers. We need better quality employers!
- Ones that encourage personal and career growth.
- Ones that convey their thoughts and plans to their staff.
- Ones that make commitments that they keep.
- Ones that encourage more women.
There are some encouraging signs. There is one printing company in Sydney, Focus Press that is doing some great work in environmental responsibility within its plant. Another, RodenPrint actually provides a crèche for its staff to use to encourage mothers who have kids to bring them along, rather than leaving them playing in the street with a packet of razor-blades!
These are the sorts of things you should be looking for in the employer of the future. Because that person may just be you!
W. James Cryer,
June, 2004 |
