Author Howie Fenton: Biography and Authored Content

See all content authored, presented, or sponsored by in-plant consultant Howie Fenton.

About the Author

Howie Fenton

Howie Fenton is an independent consultant and trusted advisor to in-plant printers. He recommends equipment, best practices and workflow automation tools to streamline operations. To learn more about measuring performance, benchmarking to leaders, and improving your value e-mail Howie@howiefentonconsulting.com

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 09 May 2023

10 Due Diligence Steps to Overcome Investment Objections

Take these 10 due diligence steps to overcome investment objections for new technology that enhances productivity to reduce time, cost, and pricing. The importance of investing in new technology is taking on a new imperative. Being prepared with due diligence will help ensure your project's approval.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 11 April 2023

9 Trust Building and Collaboration Steps to Overcome Investment Objections

A recent NAPCO study talks about today's competitive challenges and the importance of re-aligning strategies. One aspect is increasing productivity through capital investments. While many understand the due diligence calculations such as ROI and payback, not everyone realizes the importance of garnering support from other team members and departments. In this blog, we discuss 9 steps to increase trust and enhance collaboration to overcome investment objections.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 07 March 2023

5 Steps to Overcome the Fear of the Unknown

While a variety of factors can cause decision making hesitation, with the faster pace of change no one can afford to make poor or delayed decisions. Indecision or hesitation can negatively impact your ability to respond to new challenges, slow the growth of new products or services, and impact key business areas. In this blog, we describe the signs of decision hesitation and the 5 steps to overcome the fear of the unknown.

  • eBook

Accelerate Your In-plant's Future eBook

In this free eBook find out how you can accelerate your in-plant’s future and proactively respond to change. With many parts of the printing and in-plant industry changing, it may result in a resurgence of the in-plant outsourcing trend. Download the eBook and learn how to prepare your production print operation for the future, and create a plan to minimize threats and maximize your future opportunities.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 07 February 2023

The Four STEPS to Increase Productivity

A common productivity killer for printing operations is bottlenecks. With a recession potentially looming, industry experts are advising print providers to increase their productivity to help address a business slowdown and other current trends. In this post, industry consultant Howie Fenton offers his four STEP process (staff, training, equipment, and procedures) as part of an approach to resolve bottlenecks to increase productivity.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 10 January 2023

11 Predictions of How Print Industry Trends Will Impact Your Business in 2023

Our 11 predictions about how print industry trends will impact print centers and how to respond to reduce the challenges these trends create. While most in-plant print centers have been struggling with challenges ranging from demand to supply chain to staffing in the last few years, the trends and pace of change have accelerated. The issues from the trends alone would be challenging, but the combination will create “perfect storms.”

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 12 December 2022

Avoid the Failed Implementation Closet to Achieve Your Plan

This third blog in our responding to change series addresses how to implement change and avoid a trip to the “failed implementation closet.” It answers the planning question of how an operation can deliver on their strategy/plan to position themselves to rapidly respond to change with suggested tips, tools, and an example operational project plan.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 03 November 2022

What Do You Need to Support Your Strategic Plan?

Part two of a three-part series about positioning your in-plant to change and reduce the risk of outsourcing by answering three questions- where the operation should be going, what resources are needed to support the vision, and how you plan to get where you want to go. This blog discusses the staffing, software, hardware, and financing resources you need to support your strategic plan.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 07 October 2022

Are We Experiencing a "Who Moved My Cheese" Moment?

Intuitively we know that change is a constant. However, technology changes have been gradual and did not threaten the in-plant business model. In comparison, changes brought about from the pandemic have been fast, and may threaten in-plant businesses. These changes are comparable to the metaphor of someone moving the “cheese.” If you see that these changes are impacting your business, it’s the perfect time to start planning for next year to help minimize threats and maximize your future opportunities.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 09 September 2022

Prepress Automation Benefits Surpass Hiring Inexperienced Staff

If you are struggling to find new prepress staff, an alternative is to add prepress automation software. Often overlooked when hiring inexperienced staff is the increase in rework. This blog shows that prepress software automation costs less than hiring inexperienced prepress staff.

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