Careful Planning Begins with Details
By: Mike Welsch, President, Muscle Bound Bindery
Published in Graphic News Magazine, June 2005

Nobody likes surprises, especially when deadlines are looming and a project is in production. To be sure that your bindery experience goes smoothly, all projects should start with careful planning. The planning process begins when you communicate all details of your project with your bindery during the quoting process.

This offers two main benefits to you. First, the estimate you receive will be more accurate when your bindery has complete information about your project. In addition, the information you provide allows your bindery to begin planning and scheduling on their end, ensuring the fastest turnaround possible. Here are a few tips to help you organize your information when requesting an estimate:

Not Just the Basics: While the "basics" of a project - such as number of forms, trim size, stock details, quantity and target delivery date - are a must for accurate estimating and planning, your bindery will also need more minute details to keep production on track. For example, communicating details such as samples required, packing and shipping requirements such as maximum carton count and weight and special pallets required will help your bindery plan and schedule your project appropriately.

Finishing processes subsequent to binding, such as folding, film laminating, shrinkwrapping and drilling usually affect both how we plan projects and what recommendations we make for their completion. Including this information in your purchase order when your job arrives on site can save time, cost, and headaches later on. When your bindery is aware of a job's packing information plus shipping breakouts and details, they can be better prepared to have the product ready to go out the door immediately after production.

Supply a Pre-Production Sample: Planning and production can be made more efficient when you provide your bindery with a pre-production sample. This pre-production sample (or "dummy") allows your bindery to troubleshoot your project by verifying trim margins, book bulk, bleeds, crossover lineups and other details. One final note: Be sure your sample is produced on the exact stock to be used for the production run. This allows your bindery to get its hands on the actual product it will produce, and helps troubleshoot any potential problems before they reach the production floor. Communicating with your bindery from concept to completion can save time and money and help you deliver a better overall product for your customers.

Mike Welsch is President of Minneapolis-based Muscle Bound Bindery, a full-service post press company specializing in perfect binding, Otabind binding, case binding, library binding and complementary services. Mike can be reached at (612) 522-4406, or at mwelsch@mbbindery.com.