In With the New

Banta provided a centralized content management system with logical naming conventions. Coinciding with this activity, the printer performed an evaluation of Hazelden's internal network, desktop hardware and software, identified and completed upgrades, which provided consistency and performance to the production environment. Digital photography capabilities were also integrated into the system, shortening the production cycle. Full, remote redundancy and automated back up systems were implemented to make the system virtually fault tolerant.

Benefits of system

The new systems and procedures created:

• Digital content management (DCM), which provided an efficient image management capability that allowed for fast identification and retrieval of digital assets, while eliminating duplicate incompatible versions.

• On-site server and data storage, which provided rapid and secured access to content and additional levels of redundancy.

• Remote data backup, which provided disaster recovery, off-site storage and multi-level security for asset protection.

• Standardized software and desktop applications, which provided compatibility and consistency throughout the organization, and eliminated incompatible versioning of images and fonts.

• Network and desktop administration feature, which allowed the Banta data center to administer the network, adding another layer of support.

• On-site proofing feature eliminated overnight courier charges.

Streamlined Process

Under new optimized workflow, the graphic design team at Hazelden now retrieves and drags and drops low-resolution, FPO images (for position only) from the DCM database and places them in the document. The file is submitted to the transfer folder where it is processed and automatically generates a PDF. (Low-res images are later replaced by hi-res versions.) The PDF is dropped into a hot folder and is immediately available for proofing. Hazelden reviews the proofs, couriers them to the printer and transmits the files to the printer via a high-speed network.

As a result, the cycle time dropped from as much as eight days to one hour, at a price reduction of approximately 15 percent per page. Hazelden also reduced its internal manufacturing costs and increased its production capacity by 30 percent.