The importance of staging

[tonypep]

I can't tell you how many times I'll walk into a shop and, while discussing the merits of equipment, screen tension, inks and the like, notice how often the autos are down. Very often this is due to the fact that all the pieces of the "job puzzle" are not established in a timely manner. In the picture below we have the next four jobs ready with garments paperwork, screens, print instructions, print out of the design, etc. The ink dept just needs to walk by, eyeball the shirt qtys, check the pms colors, and prepare the ink carts.
It also motivates (most) employees when they come in each morning to a sense of organization and see they have coming up for the day. Sure I'd like to have new shiny machines but I'd much rather be
better prepared.

[Gilligan]

Hmm, there is a flip side to that employee attitude.  There are plenty of employees that come in and see that pile and go "uggg.... that's a lot of work".


But for the most part... you are ABSOLUTELY right... that is one clean "machine" you are running there!

[tonypep]

True enough but I am fortunate to have operators who love to be busy and hate waiting around for stuff. Also they often catch something that I have missed like "that job prints better on press four"
We have tons of screen racks and use them all day, mainly for transportation, but theres nothing like getting a visual snapshot.

[mk162]

I agree, tony, do you have a flow chart that you would like to share?  I would like to see how the master does it.

[Parker 1]

MK beat me to it.

Tony take us through your work flow from takeing the order, approval, prep, embelishment, finishing for pick-up or delivery. 
Thanks
Chris

[tonypep]

Hi guys thanks. Maybe I'll start a new thread on that but won't be till next week. And it will be long!

[Parker 1]

Perfect!

Thanks

[balloonguy]

I love the idea! I am so unorganized right now that everything takes longer than it should. My youngest of 4 kids is starting preschool this year coming up. I can't wait to get my wife in here for a couple hour a day. She will cut the mess down and get me on track. I just hope I still have a few hairs left in my head by then.
Thanks for the pic. Brilliant.
Matt

[RICK STEFANICK]

I think the way your doing it should be done in shops of all sizes. we have that same mentality here. Its not only organized but visual for employees. we do the same, all orders get pulled and staged as they come in according to the schedule. it also looks very organized and professional when customers come thru. Great looking shop tony.

[brandon]

I agree 100%. Today is Thursday and I am getting everything ready for Monday/Tuesday. However, we are not perfect by any means and I swear we get two or three rush jobs a week of multiple designs and they need them within 48 hours. While financially worth it never fun

[alan802]

Almost exactly like we do it but we only have one press so we put all the screens ready for production in one area down by the auto and not with the shirts.  We have a job folder with a printout of what the job looks like, that was approved by the customer and the work order with the production info like ink color, shirt color, etc that sit on top of the stack of shirts.  I'll see if I can get a pick of our staging, but it's really no different than Tony's when you really look at it, just a much smaller scale.

[Gilligan]

Hey Tony, is that Revolution Swag job one of your discharge "faux" fountain fill jobs?  I see two colors spec'd on the sheet so I assume that is the case but I wanted to know.

I'd like to see a close up of that job once it's done, if you get a chance.

Always learning!

[ericheartsu]

what do you use to print the mock ups of the shirts?

Our problem is we have to much work for our small crew and there is alot of mistakes. we keep working on it, but it takes a long time!

[tonypep]

First of all it isn't military perfect and things get moved around and of course, like everyone else mistakes are made and we hiccup now and then (but I believe this goes a long way to minimize this)
Gil I'm impressed at your observation. You are spot on that's a faux fountain.

[Gilligan]

First of all it isn't military perfect and things get moved around and of course, like everyone else mistakes are made and we hiccup now and then (but I believe this goes a long way to minimize this)
Gil I'm impressed at your observation. You are spot on that's a faux fountain.

Hey, I do what I can.

This process is of much interest to me... the more you would be willing to share (even if just by email) the better!

I haven't even touched discharge YET... but I'm constantly blown away by it.  For the right customer I will slow things down and get busy with some discharge!