PIA/GATF Center for Lean Practices Assists Printers

Pittsburgh-based Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) formed the Center for Lean Practices to assist the graphic communications industry with the implementation of lean manufacturing. Since its inception, the Center has received rave reviews from those who have taken advantage of the products and services. One printer reduced spoilage from 2.5 percent to 1.09 percent over the last year.

Ken Rizzo, PIA/GATF’s director of consulting, oversees the Center’s activities, and has been involved with lean practices for more than 20 years. Previously, Rizzo served as a process engineer for offset printing, where he led numerous lean manufacturing projects, including Kaizen events, 5S, setup reduction and total production maintenance.

PIA/GATF’s Center for Lean Practices offers a host of products and services, including:

• Consulting services and onsite training, such as lean and productivity assessments, value stream mapping, 5S, quick response makeready, total production maintenance and FSC and SFI certification assistance

• Lean manufacturing for print managers workshop

• Lean tools for optimizing print production workshop

• Continuous improvement conference

• “Lean Printing: Pathway to success,” published by PIA/GATF Press

• “Total Production Maintenance,” published by PIA/GATF Press

• “Hot Topics: Center for Lean Practices-Lean manufacturing 2,” by PIA/GATF Press

Many printers have taken advantage of PIA/GATF’s Center for Lean Practices, and were able to reduce waste, spoilage and downtime.

For more information, as well as quotes from satisfied customers, visit www.gain.net or call (800) 910-4283.