CIP4 Introduces Print Production Innovation Awards

Washington—The International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press, and Postpress (CIP4) Organization today announced the first worldwide annual awards recognizing innovation in print production will be selected in three categories this year. The CIP4 International Print Production Innovation ("CIPPI") awards will recognize one printer1, publisher2, or prepress service for their accomplishments in each of the following categories:

1.) Most innovative use of process automation technology in an implementation.

2.) Best cost/benefit realization as a result of process automation implementation.

3.) Biggest improvement in efficiency and customer responsiveness as a result of process automation.

Nominations may be submitted by a printer, publisher or a prepress service, or by one of their supporting vendors on their behalf. The award is given to a representative of the winning printer, publisher, or prepress service and representative and each vendor identified in detail in the award application will also be awarded a certificate acknowledging their contribution to the award-winning production innovation.

In addition to complete case-study information, including a description of the legacy environment, the goals and objective prior to implementation, the selection process, implementation, testing, and results, applicants for each category must also specify information unique to each award category:

1.) Most innovative use of process automation technology in an implementation - A description of the innovative aspect of the process and an argument for why this is unique and new, with a comparison to traditional alternatives and a description of the primary benefit of the innovative aspect of the new process.

2.) Best cost/benefit realization as a result of process automation implementation - A quantitative analysis of the hard and soft ROI factors expected and realized, to include either breakeven analysis, IRR or NPV determination of hard factors and testimonial evidence from users or customers as to the realization of soft benefits.

3.) Biggest improvement in efficiency and customer responsiveness as a result of process automation - A quantitative presentation of improvements in waste reduction, turnaround time, time to delivery from order, customer satisfaction improvements, reduction in labor costs, or other such efficiency and customer responsiveness factors.

"The industry is going through a period of change that is unique. In the past, innovations such as desktop publishing, CTP, digital printing and so on were for the most part limited to a department and one or two types of workstations or production devices. Today it is the workflow of the entire operation, business and production that is undergoing process automation," said CIP4 Executive Director James Harvey. "While vendors can do their part to help, ultimately it is the printer, publisher, or prepress service that determines what their process automation implementation is going to look like. The printers, publishers and prepress service professionals that have been tackling process automation in the last couple of years and today are defining the shape of print production for decades to come. So we hope that the CIPPI will bring light to stories, provide some deserved recognition, and perhaps provide some inspiration for others in the industry."

Complete details and application forms can be downloaded at http://www.cip4.org/cippi/. Completed applications are to be submitted to CIP4 Secretariat Stefan Daun at Secretariat@cip4.org in the form of a word file by April 30th of each year. Each nomination is then circulated to CIP4's Advisory Board and each Advisory Board member is asked to select two candidates for each category (and a separate application is required for each category.) The candidate that receives the most Advisory Board selections in each category is selected the winner. If there is a tie in any one category, CIP4 CEO will determine the winner.

The second place candidate in each category (and their supporting vendors) is awarded an honorable mention certificate. Given that this is a global competition, Awards are given out individually by a representative of CIP4 (Advisory Board or Staff) at the winner's location, so as to not require extensive travel by the award winners. Furthermore, all complete case-studies submitted to CIP4 will be made available to the public after the awards are made each year.