Management is key to save newsprint waste
Newsprint accounts for 50% to 60% of the total cost of production of a printed newspaper. Over the years, several technology advancements have made newspaper production a finely-tuned industrial process. However, efficient use of newsprint is an area that calls for serious attention. A sharp focus on the management of newsprint waste will have a dramatic impact on the efficiency of the production process.
23 Sep 2014 | 3084 Views | By Dibyajyoti Sarma
These were some the salient features of the presentation made by K Balaji, director, Kasturi & Sons, on the topic, ‘newsprint waste management for operational excellence’ at the Print Summit of the Wan-Ifra India 2014, held in New Delhi on 17-18 September, 2014.
The presentation was timed with the release of Wan-Ifra’s latest special SFN report on newsprint waste management, authored by Balaji.
Stressing on the fact that the price of newsprint has taken a rollercoaster ride in the recent years, Balaji said efficient use of newsprint is the need of the hour, as the opposite ultimately leads to loss of material, quality and time. He said newsprint management shouldn’t just be a plan, but should be built into a day-to-day activity in the production plant.
Balaji said top management is equally responsible about this; as are the actual workers feeding the newsprint rolls on the machines. Admitting that most managements are not willing to face the facts, he said, there must be awareness about the actual waste figures. He also said more than focusing on the numbers, the management should focus on the process of how the newsprint is being used and how the waste can be reduced.
Balaji also outlined a process to do so, which involves factors like understanding what constitutes waste, where it generates, identifying causes and finding solutions, keeping a report and documentation system, assigning responsibility, and if needed, providing training to the staff.
Newsprint waste management, according to Balaji, also involves minimising damage of the newsprint during transport and minimising start-up waste during production.
The special SFN report, distributed among the delegates during the presentation, updates the treatment of newsprint waste control found in Wan-Ifra’s Newsprint and Newsink Guide, which was published in 1993. The report covers the following: definition of newsprint waste, wrapper and white waste, white core waste and core tare waste, production waste, waste resulting from web breaks and mailroom waste and over-production.