Raw

Subject: Reduce TTW composing costs through targeted tests and a methods review

TTW’s composing room is under capacity pressure, with most jobs late and overtime more than 50% above budget. At the same time, TTW is uncompetitive on simple work, yet management does not know how much of its composing cost is genuinely excessive.

TTW should run a focused cost-reduction programme: establish the cost gap, simplify controls for inexpensive titles, and redesign the composing method where productivity is below benchmark.

1. Establish the size and source of the cost gap  
   Measure TTW’s productivity against relevant benchmarks and identify where its performance is 20–50% below them.

2. Simplify the process for inexpensive titles  
   Test selected simple jobs with fewer or differently timed quality checks, measuring effects on quality and customers. This could save up to 10% of total composing cost.

3. Improve composing productivity  
   Commission a methods study to identify changes to the composing method that can close the productivity gap, particularly in manual composition where capacity is constrained.

The work should begin immediately, given recent staff losses, difficulty hiring and retaining compositors, and continuing overtime pressure.

Omitted or demoted: the names of interviewees, general statements about management’s willingness to investigate, and a comparison with three other printers. These do not support the recommendation; external comparisons should be used only as evidence within the productivity assessment.