Keeping up with technology can be difficult for any company, but especially one that is unsure about its future. Maintaining technology amongst great competition may be the only way a company can survive. Assessing Epsen Hillmer Graphic's external environment, including both the competitive and the general contextual factors (Pearce-Robinson, 2004), shows that the company needs to take advantage of advanced printing methods. Computerized printing without the use of plates will allow Epsen Hillmer to produce labels with less color variation, shorter lead times, and less overhead.
Situation Background
Epsen Hillmer Graphics, once a leader in the label printing industry, needs to find a way to regain a presence in the domestic market. Currently, they are struggling to stay competitive with other private label manufacturers, the top five each generating total label sales of at least $100 million (Freedonia, 2000). Epsen Hillmer Graphics has been struggling since the strike of the Litho Union and subsequent sale of the litho division.
Epsen Hillmer needs to take advantage of better technologies in the label printing industry. Currently the company provides litho, flexo, letterpress, silkscreen, and combination plate printing with varnish and lamination capabilities to meet the needs of their current custom label customer base. Litho printed labels are found on juice bottles such as Apple Tree and Langer's Juices. Flexo printing is often used to print simple labels such as meat, bakery, and deli merchandising labels; EHG stocks many of these labels. Letterpress is used in a great deal of four-color process work (4CP), this would include Campbell's Foodservice labels, Dannon Whips labels, and Seminis Seed labels. Silkscreen is often used on shampoo products, such as Alberto-Culver's labels, to provide a pop to the label. These are all plate printing methods, which are often used to reduce overall costs for the customer; however, the plates wear out and break and need to be maintained for best print capabilities. When the plates deteriorate they can be greater color variation in the labels, which makes customers unhappy because these labels are their product image. The steps that need to be taken to prepare a plate job for print can take a great deal of time, which can be detrimental to Epsen Hillmer Graphics because many of the customers work in just-in-time (JIT) and don't allow for a lead time of 3-4 weeks before their labels are even shipped.
Problem Definition
Epsen Hillmer Graphics (EHG) is facing many business problems and most likely will not survive if they are unable to meet customer demands through the use of better technology.
Background Information In implementing a strategic plan for Coastal Medical Center, our consulting team has conducted many analyses and formed numerous strategies in order for Coastal Medical Center to be successful. Such assessments include an internal analysis, external analysis, gap analysis, and SWOT analysis. In conducting these analyses, our consulting team was able to better understand the internal environment, external environment, where the organization currently stands in terms of performance, and the major strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that oppose the Coastal Medical Center. From our inquiry, we will be able to establish a strategic plan that best fits the organization’s needs.
After analyzing the Coastal Medical Center, it is apparent that the employees and staff have no conception of the mission, vision, and values of this health care facility. In addition to this lack of structure, CMC has many projects in the midst of production that lack support of a common goal, employees are unsatisfied with their jobs, the two boards lack ability to agree on strategic decisions for the organization,, and the medical center has a dismal reputation when it comes to quality care.
In particular, promotions should target consumer who use paper-products and foams. Leveraging the company's highly trained sales personnel, relative benefits and long-term cost savings afforded by superior bubble product should be stressed. Additional promotional efforts should include direct mailings to potential clients in the US and Europe. Importantly, all promotional efforts must target packaging engineers.
Nancy and Jennifer are worried that changing their emblem will negatively impact their market status. By seeking advice from comparable businesses which have already gone through rebranding, it will be valuable to the proceedings. Benchmarking will allow them to determine the best alternatives and make their labor
Myers Holding Limited is one of the leading and most prevalent department store that offer a vast variety of products that include famously branded fashion, beauty products, electrical appliances, home wears, accessories and toys. Myer has 67 stores throughout Australia in prime locations and its flagship store is located in Melbourne. Myer employs over 12, 500 people throughout its 67 stores and had over 1200 suppliers globally which include high end brands.
And we will purchase capacities when plant utilisation above 90%. This will expand the business size and have a positive impact on economies of scale. Composed with High End and Size products transfer into Traditional and Low End, we have multiproduct in targeted segments. “Higher firm-level ability raises a firm 's productivity across all products, which induces a positive correlation to a firm’s intensive and extensive margin” (Bernard, Redding and Schott 2006). This means with an effective business strategy and management, businesses can boost sales of all products within the segment. With a larger product profile for Traditional and Low End, it works to generate larger market shares. Refer to Graph 4 and 5, Digby sold twice units of products than its core competitor-Baldwin by having Daze and Dixie in its Traditional segment, which drives its segment market share to double Baldwin’s. The boost in sales and market share prove the correct implication of the
...linsky, Eric. “Using 3-D Printers…” All Tech Considered. Feb 06, 2013. Nov 5, 2013. .
III. Situation Analysis Company Analysis During the 1970's, HD was facing a decline in market share due to increased competition with Japanese companies. By phasing out weak models, becoming more selective, and limiting sales and promotions, HD was able to carve out a niche in the marketplace which it enjoys today. Now again, faced with a period of decline, HD is relying on its newly adopted marketing objectives. First, HD needs to expand its potential customer base to include enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts.
However, RLK’s competitors are downsizing and outsourcing R&D and exploiting on the cost advantages. If RLK decides to invest more money into R&D and should the new product stall on launch, they face the danger of becoming bankrupt.
At the moment, Xerox had two clear distinct options. First option is to stick with what is best at printing, copying and delivering exclusively the Book-In-Time technology. Meaning, selling Book-In-Time equipment to all those elements of the value chain t...
We have chosen the Xerox Corporation and evaluated the strategic importance of innovation in its role. Xerox from its inception has always been regarded as an organisation that thrives on innovation and diversification. The introduction of the their xerographic office copier in 1959 is seen as one the main technological advancements in the 20th Century. Even as late as the 1990's Xerox has been boldly reinventing itself from a predominantly black and white, light lens copier company to a digital, colour and document solutions company. Even the release of their third quarter results for 2000 in October last, showed despite a 5% drop in revenue, the organisation still looks forward to improving its overall strategy by revealing a new turnaround program
Where there is rapid growth comes increased competition; similarities in products across manufacturers have reduced brand differentiation across the board. The problem now is the severe rise of copycat companies and manufacturers that copy designs and specifications of cars, and proceed to undercut the original manufacturer’s profit margins. So to improve their brand standing, every manufacturer’s individually have resort...
Lidergraf is an ink-on-paper brand. We are experts in printing and obsessed with thorough control of every variables of the process. The outcome is a workflow capable of consistent print reproductions, of high resolution and contrast, with an enlarged colour gamut.
If asked what strategic planning is one could interpret it as simply a road map that can guide the organization in the right direction. It is very unlikely that an organization would know which direction to take without a sense of direction. Managers are faced every day with decisions that have a major impact on the direction the organization must take, therefore, strategic planning can play an important role in guiding managers in the right direction. In other words strategic planning is a tool that management can use to give them a sense of direction that will guide them in doing a better job and to ensure that all the members of the organization are working toward the same goals
The Eastman Kodak Company was established in the 1880’s as a film business, set on establishing its brand name in the marketplace through customer-focused advertising and growth through research and development and low cost mass production. The founder, George Eastman, described Kodak’s competitive philosophy by commenting that “nothing is more important than the value of our name and the quality it stands for. We must make quality our fighting argument” (Gavetti, Henderson & Giorgi, 2005).