New PRIMIR Workflow, Economic Indicator Studies Underway for 2011 Delivery
RESTON, VA—At the July 2010 PRIMIR Summer Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, PRIMIR funded two research studies that will be published in 2011.
"Transformative Workflow Strategies for Print Applications" will explore the unique characteristics of a transformative workflow developed in support of business objectives or practices or for a key print application. The study will be broken out by five major print segments (publication printing, promotional printing, commercial printing, financial/transactional printing and within an in-plant or CRD firm).
The consultants will evaluate where in the workflow of a printing firm a transformation has occurred, explore the drivers for the change as well as the process (associated costs including hardware and software needs) for implementing the change. The study deliverable (slated for early 2011) will include workflow diagrams, drivers, barriers, and market receptivity, ROI analysis, case studies and more.
According to Andy Gordon, Manager, Business Intelligence, Océ North America, and co-chair of the PRIMIR task force leading this project, "This study will identify innovative business models for today's marketplace, call out the transformative workflows in support of key business objectives, and identify what may become standard practices of the future for various types of printing firms."
The study is being managed by InfoTrends with Chris Bondy and Alex Sumarta at the helm. They have assembled a solid team of industry experts including Don Goldman, ConsultWare, Richard Huff, Madison Advisors, and David Zwang, Zwang & Co.
Chris Bondy, Group Director at InfoTrends noted, "InfoTrends and our partners are extremely excited about working on this landmark study for PRIMIR and its members. There is no doubt that workflows in our industry are transforming. Our research activities coupled with the development of actual case studies of companies with successful transformation efforts will allow us to provide PRIMIR with new insights."
The other new study "Economic Indicators for Print" will provide an academic analysis of the printing industry and identify economic indicators that can be used to forecast industry growth, and demand for key print products, printing equipment and supplies.
According to Paul Jaynes, Marketing Manager, Eastman Kodak Company, who serves as chair of the PRIMIR task force leading this study, "Our members receive numerous economic reports related to the printing industry and while there is broad confidence in them, we believe a fresh, academic approach from outside the industry may reveal new perspectives. This study may support our existing beliefs and understandings but may also reveal new indicators that can be used to forecast the industry and key print applications as well as print equipment and consumables."
Dr. Benjamin Passty, Director of the Applied Economics Research Institute (AERI) of the University of Cincinnati (UC) will lead a team to conduct the research for PRIMIR. Dr. Passty commented, "Our team at AERI is very excited to take on this study. We are fortunate to have the expertise of the UC Economics faculty and believe our unique perspective can produce findings that are complementary to existing industry reports. The most significant constraint, and always, is in obtaining quality data. We have experience collecting and reporting economic data that has helped change the way organizations do business and I am excited to leverage these capabilities for the PRIMIR study."
Andy Gordon, chairman of the PRIMIR Executive Committee noted, "These new studies test our current understandings of workflow strategies and economic indicators, and strive to identify 'outside the box thinking.' PRIMIR expects that these studies' findings will change the way its members do business and will provide both print suppliers and providers with new perspectives to better understand and manage their businesses."
For more information about these two future PRIMIR research projects or membership details, contact Jackie Bland, PRIMIR Managing Director at e-mail: jbland@primir.org, or phone: (703) 264-7200. Visit PRIMIR on the web at: www.primir.org.
About PRIMIR
The Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (www.primir.org), provides in-depth research and analysis for the graphic communications industry. PRIMIR research is funded by member dues as well as through support from NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies. PRIMIR annually provides over $600,000 in current research studies including relevant market data and detailed information on graphic communications and related fields. Members also benefit from meetings, market research skills building, and robust business networking opportunities.
Source: Press release.