Careers in Print – Production

The roles within a print shop are often described as requiring a variety of skills, including technical expertise, managerial oversight, and operational efficiency.

The print operations managers are responsible for ensuring that all machines are properly maintained to avoid poor print quality.

Printing equipment operators are generally not responsible for machine maintenance.

Finishing equipment operators need to be aware of the entire production line from the beginning to the end product.

Warehouse operators need to be aware of the timing related to shipping and manage a work in progress list.

Print operations managers often rely solely on their internal team and do not interact with other print shops.

The roles and responsibilities of prepress operators have become more technology-focused over the years.

Virtual reality is being used for training purposes across all roles in the print production process.

Finishing equipment often has a longer lifespan in print shops compared to other equipment due to long amortization tables.

All operators in a print shop are required to have a deep understanding of software and digital tools.