Paul Everett, shop steward Aveley, Ford

Improving efficiency
Océ has pioneered the 'Green Button approach', which involves using smart software to underpin a networked printroom strategy for millions of complex documents, ranging from training manuals to technical bulletins and customer/dealership materials. The software-Océ Doc Works, a member of the Océ PRISMA® architecture-has been installed to support and network a central print facility and four other remote printrooms in Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom. The software has underpinned a document management and delivery solution that has helped Ford reduce costs, control its high volume printing and dramatically improve efficiency.

 

Document importance at Ford
Ford, the world's second largest car company, produces 16 million documents a year at its central reprographics facility at Aveley in Essex, where 27 people are employed. Millions of other documents are produced at their other print facilities: Warley, Dunton and Daventry. Ford estimates that Océ's solution has improved document management productivity by 25%, compared to the former printing and copying processes on their previous equipment that has now been discarded. The cost of producing each copy has also been significantly reduced.

 

Phased approach, maximised results
Under the old system at Aveley, one operator was needed for each machine in the centre and their work involved little more than printing or copying documents. Production of copies was very labour-intensive and productivity was further reduced because of the time taken to transport documents on foot to the printroom. Working with Ford, Océ has developed and implemented a comprehensive document strategy to improve document production now and to meet their requirements for the future. Océ, which has built a strong relationship with Ford in the United Kingdom over many years, has provided a step-by-step approach for the car giant, starting with Océ PRISMAtools software (Océ Doc Works). This means that users' printing requirements can be submitted, moved and managed electronically between Ford's four print centres. This has helped Ford maximise their resources and ensured that documents are produced on the most suitable and available piece of equipment. In turn this has cut down on transportation costs and helped maximise technology efficiencies.

 

The supporting Océ Scan Logic® provides a powerful scanning tool, allowing printroom staff to automatically digitise hardcopy documents and submit them directly to Océ Doc Works. Combined with Océ PRISMAarchive software, it offers the ability to quickly archive the digitised documents and to retrieve them for future re-printing when required. The total solution includes two high speed Océ DPS400s, two Océ 3165s combined with an on/off-line finishing system from strategic partner Watkiss and the colour production system Océ CPS700.

 

Just press the green button
Ford's document solution is an example of how Océ's 'Green Button approach' is delivering integrated software and hardware solutions for document production centres, in a scalable and modular way, at the simple touch of a green button.

 

Ford was especially pleased with the way that Océ looked at the big picture for their document needs. Creating a strategy developed by looking at the most appropriate workflow fit for all production print centres as opposed to just one or two in isolation with a 'one box fits all' type of strategy employed by other vendors. Ford staff has found that they have made a substantial move forward in terms of the way they handle data and believe that Océ has built the best-integrated solution to meet their needs. Printroom operators really do see Océ's strategy as helping them to become 'best in class' and setting industry standards.
 

Steve Crawford, Director of Océ (UK) Ltd's Document Printing Systems, says: "Océ has been able to develop a full document strategy for Ford. Central to our success was providing Ford with a road map to improve document production now and in the future. This is a long-term partnership that will continue to develop through other innovative solutions."

 

Solutions made for people
Staff in the Ford print centres are doing more varied and rewarding jobs, having been trained on a wide range of industry standard technology. Employees have found the Océ solution to be very flexible. Paul Everett, who has worked for Ford for 26 years and is shop steward for the AMICUS union at Aveley, said: "We are in a core business and need to be very flexible; have the best option in terms of the print solution for the plant. The fact is that the people who work here now have a much larger skills base and a lot more customer contact than we ever had before."

 

Above all, the print operation is now considered to be leading edge and provides a service that's 'best in class'. Although there has been a learning curve, the Ford staff clearly recognise the Océ solution as the way forward.