10 tips for keeping your job on schedule

1. Submit your credit determination paperwork early
If you are a new customer. Be sure to keep your
account current if you are an existing customer.

2 . Build time into your schedule to prepare your files.
Avoid finishing your project in the 11th hour. You
will want to give yourself adequate time to thoroughly
proof your job prior to submitting the files. Waiting
until the proofing stage to proof your job will be
expensive, both in time and dollars.

3. Get in the schedule early.
The sooner you can let us know your project is coming,
the more likely it is that we will be able to meet
your delivery needs. By securing a spot in our
production schedule you won't run the risk of missing
your crunch delivery date. sending a purchase order
shows your commitment to sending your job and allows
us to order the paper for your project. This is
helpful in avoiding delays by long paper lead times.

4. It never hurts to submit test files.
By submitting test files we can detect potential
problems early in the process - before your job even
comes in. Delays in the preflight stage once your job
is submitted can irreparably delay your schedule.

5. Submit lean files.
Once it is time to send final files, be sure they are
clean and ready for processing. We recommend
submitting high resolution pdf's. If your don't
already have them, request the Gannett Printing and
Publishing distiller settings from our Client Services
Manager. Loading and using these distiller setting
will get you one step closer to sending us print ready
pdf's.

6. Nail down those specs early in the process.
Changing your page count, quantity, color usage, etc.,
late in the process can cause added expense and
delays. Ideally you will have final job specs when you
secure that schedule early in the process.

7. Don't miss your deadlines.
Once you have requested a schedule and we have
committed to it, it is critical that you meet your
scheduled date for files submission as well as the
return of your proofs and supplying shipping and/or
mailing information. It isn't always possible to trade
"a day for a day" when deadlines are missed.

8. Keep your proofs on schedule.
The general rule of thumb is that proofs will be
reviewed and shipped back the same day they are
received. If you know up front that you will need to
keep your proofs longer than one day, you will need to
communicate that when you request your original
schedule. Also, extensive changes at this point are
not recommended. If you need to make extensive changes
at this point, your schedule will need to be altered
accordingly.

9. Provide complete and timely shipping instructions.
It is imperative that shipping instructions, including
any special requirements, are communicated early in
the process. Ideally, these instructions would be
given at the time of file submission. If this isn't
possible, you will want to communicate the
instructions with our Client Services Manager at the
earliest opportunity. Waiting until the project is
complete can result in added time and expense when
re-handling is required to meet your shipping needs.

10. Supply mailing list on schedule.
If your project mails, you will want to supply the
mailing list no later than two working days prior to
the start of the finishing work, such as stitching or
binding. We will then provide you with a postage
estimate. You will want to either send us the postage
check so that we have it one business day prior to
your drop date or deposit the postage check in your
permit account one business day prior to your drop
date as applicable.

Finishing Touches by Marji Bastian

Shipping Successfully

It is the goal of every customer to get their product
delivered as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
This is true whether the product is shipping across
town or across country. There are a few key things you
can do to help Gannett Printing and Publishing
accomplish this goal for you.

Step one

The first step, and probably the most critical, is to
have all packaging and shipping instructions including
mailing lists, to our Client Services Manager prior to
your project reaching the finishing department. This
usually means two working days prior to the start of
the finishing work but for large job, or jobs with
extensive packaging, this could be a week or more
prior. This is critical because it allows us to plan
for proper staffing and materials to met your job's
needs. It is also critical because it allows us to
handle the job once. any time we have to handle a job
twice it costs time, not only delaying your job but
other jobs in the schedule. A definite benefit of
getting your shipping and packaging instructions to us
early is that it allows us to finish your project
ahead of schedule if a window opens up in our
production.

Step two

The second step in insuring a timely and efficient
delivery is to know what facilities there will be on
the receiving end and informing our Client Services
Manager of any special needs. Countless jobs are
delayed over the course of a year because the job is
shipped on a standard truck and when it arrives at its
destination there isn't a loading dock or the proper
equipment to unload the truck. When this happens the
shipment generally has to go back to the freight
terminal to be moved to a truck with a lift-gate. Or
worse, the truck driver expects the person at the
receiving end to crawl into the back of their truck
and unload the boxes themselves. This is never a good
scenario. Familiarize yourself with the facilities at
the receiving end of your shipment. Then notify your
Sales Consultant and our Client Services Manager so
that the appropriate measures can be taken to deliver
your product. And remember, it is always less
expensive to ship to a location with a receiving dock
as opposed to an inside delivery or hand unload.

Step three

Another important ingredient in the successful
shipping recipe is to make it clear to our Client
Services Manager whether delivery time or delivery
cost is more important. Maybe both are equally
important to you and should be communicated as well.
The reason this is important is that our shipping
personnel work hard to get the best rates possible.
Sometimes to get the best rate you may sacrifice a day
in delivery time. A lot of freight companies give
delivery "windows". In other words they say a shipment
could take 3 to 4 days, which sometimes turns into 5.
The benefit these companies offer is competitive
rates, These same companies can be sure to get it
there in 3 days if you do a "guaranteed shipment". Of
course, you pay a service charge for the freight
company to insure that your product arrives by a the 3
day deadline, however if the delivery date is crucial,
it becomes money well spent. Even though we live in
the technology age it is difficult to change shipments
en route so it is important to let our Client Services
Manager know up front what the priority is - get it
there by a certain date or get it there cheap.

In shipping, as in life, communication is the key. Let
our Client Services Manager or your Sales Consultant
know what you are trying to accomplish and we will
work diligently to help you meet your goals.