Impressions - March 2018 - 27
Many of the roadblocks your shop may face stem from one vital step
in the order fulfillment process: order entry.
Today, there is an increased demand for reducing turnaround times,
and the key to meeting customer expectations is to develop a better
order entry process. The quality of this step is crucial to the speed and
success of every department in your shop to follow.
TRAINING
One of the most overlooked aspects of order entry is the training component. You may hold instructional sessions on how to deliver customer
service, but that should just be the starting point.
Start with the link between the information entered and the work
that follows. These instructions are crucial. Information shouldn't be
dumped into form fields, but entered in a way that will make sense
to everyone.
The most critical piece of information on an order is the ship date.
This is the date that the order must leave the building, and it should
drive a greater sense of urgency than anything else on the form.
How is that ship date chosen? Is someone mindlessly selecting a
date without considering capacity? If so, what are the consequences if
you overbook your production? Accurate production scheduling stems
from making good decisions at this stage, which requires thorough
order entry training.
Another important aspect of training is teaching employees how
to obtain quality order information. If an employee enters incomplete
information into your system, it can create many problems later.
All too often, for example, art instructions look like this: "Do
something cool. Logo to be blue, large on the shirt. Add a motorcycle
underneath the headline 'Thunder Road.'" Notes like these leave a lot
of unanswered questions, such as: "What is the definition of 'cool'?
What Pantone color should be used for the blue? How many inches
is 'large'? Can we use any font for 'Thunder Road?'"
Unanswered questions could mean many revisions before a customer
approves the art. Dialing in the effort on the front end for quality art
instructions pays off when you only have to design the image once.
Are you tracking your first-time art approval rate? If it is not
Quick Tip
Want a better and more accurate production
schedule? Spend some quality time training
your front office staff with tasks in production. This means they work for a day or two in
receiving, checking-in product. Have them pull
and stage jobs by equipment. Show them how the
information they put into your system actually
works out on the production floor.
above 85%, you need to spend some time rethinking this part of your
order process.
THINK AHEAD
It's important to think ahead when gathering art information for a
work order, but these details aren't the only aspect of the order that
could impact others.
At the order entry stage, thorough information input for production,
post-production, shipping and even invoicing matters as well.
Are you managing the expectations of your customers by discussing
these in advance? For example, are you stating that the top of a fullfront design is normally placed 3 inches down from the bottom of the
collar? Or how designating commercial or residential addresses prevent
chargebacks from freight carriers? Also, are you even taking the job if
the customer is 60 days past due on his account?
Your order entry staff can't be made up of mindless zombies that
only key in information. They need to be detectives looking for clues
of challenges that could affect your shop down the line.
A work order is like a blueprint for constructing a house. Things go
much smoother when the details are given. Speed increases when nobody has to stop and ask: "Hey, what does this mean?" Training your
staff to provide accurate information is key.
It's crucial to spend time in
the work evnironment and
talk to your crew.
MARCH 2018
P.27
Impressions - March 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - March 2018
Impressions - March 2018
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
Mindfully Made
Breakdown: Decorating Womenswear
The Work Flow Series
Living the Print Life
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Direct-To-Garment
Heat Printing
Ad Index/Online Directory
Classifieds
Impressions - March 2018 - Intro
Impressions - March 2018 - CT1
Impressions - March 2018 - CT2
Impressions - March 2018 - Impressions - March 2018
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover2
Impressions - March 2018 - 1
Impressions - March 2018 - Contents
Impressions - March 2018 - 3
Impressions - March 2018 - 4
Impressions - March 2018 - 5
Impressions - March 2018 - First Impressions
Impressions - March 2018 - 7
Impressions - March 2018 - From the Show Director
Impressions - March 2018 - 9
Impressions - March 2018 - Overheard
Impressions - March 2018 - 11
Impressions - March 2018 - 12
Impressions - March 2018 - 13
Impressions - March 2018 - First Look
Impressions - March 2018 - 15
Impressions - March 2018 - 15A
Impressions - March 2018 - 15B
Impressions - March 2018 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - March 2018 - 17
Impressions - March 2018 - 18
Impressions - March 2018 - On Design
Impressions - March 2018 - Mindfully Made
Impressions - March 2018 - 21
Impressions - March 2018 - 22
Impressions - March 2018 - 23
Impressions - March 2018 - Breakdown: Decorating Womenswear
Impressions - March 2018 - 25
Impressions - March 2018 - The Work Flow Series
Impressions - March 2018 - 27
Impressions - March 2018 - 28
Impressions - March 2018 - 29
Impressions - March 2018 - Living the Print Life
Impressions - March 2018 - 31
Impressions - March 2018 - Shop Talk
Impressions - March 2018 - 33
Impressions - March 2018 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - March 2018 - 35
Impressions - March 2018 - 36
Impressions - March 2018 - 37
Impressions - March 2018 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - March 2018 - 39
Impressions - March 2018 - 40
Impressions - March 2018 - 41
Impressions - March 2018 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - March 2018 - 43
Impressions - March 2018 - 44
Impressions - March 2018 - Heat Printing
Impressions - March 2018 - 46
Impressions - March 2018 - 47
Impressions - March 2018 - Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - March 2018 - Classifieds
Impressions - March 2018 - 50
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover3
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover4
Impressions - March 2018 - IA1
Impressions - March 2018 - IA2
Impressions - March 2018 - IA3
Impressions - March 2018 - IA4
Impressions - March 2018 - IA5
Impressions - March 2018 - IA6
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404S
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com