Commitment To Quality

Quality is key to our success. From estimating, through production, to delivery and invoicing, we go out of our way to ensure that a consistently high standard of quality is achieved, continuously assessing our systems and operations to maintain this quality throughout the supply chain.

Outlined below is our quality management reporting procedure, which is further supported by our Quality Control Conformity Document (QCCD). The QCCD is raised at the start of each job and requires completion and verification of compliance at every stage of the production process, whether carried out internally or by a specialist outworker. These quality control measures are in place for every job that we produce, however, we are always happy to provide an individual Service Level Agreement for clients requiring bespoke procedures to accommodate specific quality criteria.

  1. Enquiries are received via telephone, fax, email, website or in person. Quotations are prepared by a specialist estimator, reviewed by a director and communicated back to the client in writing within 24 hours subject to complexity. Where appropriate, the estimator makes recommendations for cost savings and provides alternative figures for comparison.
  2. On receipt of an order, details are checked against the quotation and any discrepancies re-priced and confirmed to the client. When both the quotation and order agree, all associated documentation is passed to the commercial department for booking in.
  3. Once booked in, each job automatically appears on our production list, with its progress discussed and recorded during the daily production meeting until fully delivered and invoiced.
  4. When the order and quotation have been received by the commercial department, the job details are uploaded to our computerised management information system, the client's credit-worthiness and trading history are assessed and an order confirmation issued to the client confirming both the job details and our payment terms.
  5. On return of the order confirmation signed by the client, the job file and Quality Control Conformity Document (QCCD) are passed to the production controller, who requisitions paper, allocates time for the production processes and books any outwork operations.
  6. Artwork is forwarded to our pre-press department accompanied by the QCCD. The files are checked against the job specification, a press-calibrated colour proof with colour bars is output and submitted to the client for approval and the QCCD completed.
  7. On receipt of the returned colour proof any amendments are checked, listed and processed, a new proof is output and submitted to the client. The final proof is signed off by the client, stamped with approval for press and passed with the imposition and QCCD to plate-making.
  8. Machine plates are output with control strips, quality checked, identified with the works order details, signed off by the plate-maker and the QCCD completed.
  9. A low-resolution book proof is prepared to represent the final product, signed off by the pre-press manager and forwarded with the plates, colour proofs and QCCD to the press-room.
  10. Detailed works instructions and a job bag containing the QCCD, client-approved colour proofs, made-up improof and any other quality control documents are passed to the press-room and checked by the department manager prior to printing.
  11. The job is passed on press by the press shift supervisor, the client and/or a director using the colour bars present on every section in conjunction with the signed-off press-calibrated colour proofs and/or previous copy. Pass-sheets are signed accordingly, with any specific quality criteria highlighted and discussed with the printers involved. Time-stamped sheets are pulled at regular intervals and retained for reference and the QCCD completed.
  12. Printed sections are identified by pallet tabs, which detail information relevant to all subsequent operations and a scales print-out confirming the quantity achieved.
  13. The finishing department or outworker receives the printed sections from the press-room, together with the made-up book proof, clear works instructions and QCCD. If internal, the department manager checks all details and verifies printed quantities.
  14. The finishing shift supervisors pass all work carried out on their machines, referring to the job details, any specific quality criteria and the made-up improof. Where appropriate, endorsement is obtained from the department manager or a director and the QCCD is completed at each stage before the job is progressed to the next operation.
  15. File copies of the finished job are forwarded to the production controller, who quality checks them before sending them to the client, retaining a few copies for reference.
  16. After final instructions are checked, the job is delivered with appropriate delivery notes.
  17. The works instructions, job bag, proofs and QCCD are returned to the production controller for final completion and checking. Any author's corrections or other cost variations that have arisen during the lifecycle of the job are agreed with the client prior to invoicing.
  18. Job cost information is collated electronically from time-sheets, internal cost centres and supplier and/or outworker invoices. Each job's actual costs are compared with those quoted and reviewed monthly at director level. Any issues are analysed, with training of relevant personnel carried out to prevent recurrence.

ISO 9001 certification awarded in June 2008

  • ISO 9001