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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  • 18 September 2020

The Evolution in Printing Metrics

In-plant print center metrics that best predict success and evaluate performance have changed. In this post, Fenton discusses several metrics, relates how in-plant vs. commercial printer metrics differ, looks more closely at newer metrics like equipment utilization and offers evidence of the metric that may be the most predictive of in-plant success.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 11 August 2020

Technology's Increasing Importance for Engaging Staff

A recent Harvard Business Review survey concluded overwhelmingly that technology has a greater impact on employee engagement than it did three years ago and will continue to be a major factor. Utilize the latest technologies in your print shop and ensure your staff has an active role in using, remaining current and fully employing these technologies as part of an overall employee engagement strategy to foster engagement and attract and retain staff.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 17 July 2020

Software Dashboards and New Trends in Data Collection

The idea of business dashboards is not new. What is new is that dashboards have become a mainstream management tool and now upper management may request access to dashboards. Business dashboards typically provide a graphical display of critical information such as day to day data, key performance indicators (KPIs) or benchmarks. One of the main problems, however, is the lack of availability of dashboards. One of the few companies that offers a dashboard is RSA.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 13 May 2020

How to Estimate Staffing Needs as Workload Changes

Howie Fenton shares a method to estimate staffing needs as your revenue changes using your current sales per employee ratio (SPE) and anticipated revenue changes. Adding automation and shifting and cross training staff can address workflow gaps and bottlenecks that result from staff imbalances.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 12 February 2020

VLOG: Steps 4 - 6 of 9 Steps to In-plant Profitability Series

This vlog is part two of a three-part series about the nine steps that I see that in-plants need to take to increase their financial stability. While not every in-plant has an operating model to be profitable, in-plants can use these steps to ensure that they are meeting their financial goals.

  • Blog Post
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  • Howie Fenton
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  • 27 January 2020

Nine Steps to In-plant Profitability

In this vlog, I start a three-part series about the nine steps that I see that in-plants need to take to increase their profitability. While not every in-plant has a model to be profitable, in-plants can use these steps to ensure they are not losing money or operating below cost, and are operating as efficiently as possible for their parent organization.

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