Formkitheader.jpg (17180 bytes)

Press Log

Purpose: To collect time/motion information from the production line.

File Name: PRESSLOG

Format: Single Page, 1 Part

The information that the Press log collects may be the most important information that your company can use in determining your firms profitability. It records all the relevant time/motion information about each press in your shop. Using this form, you can determine the average number of hours per day / days per week each press in your shop runs, color / difficulty information, average setup times, and efficiency - all the key information for determining your pricing structure.

Use: To use this form, you should post a clipboard holding this form at each press in your shop. As the operator begins each job, he or she denotes the date, job name or number, as well as job statistics like the number of colors and difficulty level. Difficulty level is expressed as the type of goods being worked on, such as light colored goods, dark colored goods, or jackets. The difficulty level is a time classification, as dark colored goods normally take longer to print than light colors, and jackets take longer than darks. These time-classifications are crucial to your pricing system.

The operator should not record the number of pieces (Qty) at this time. The operator then proceeds to note the time that he or she began setting up the machine. This may include taping screens, placing screens into the press, aligning, striking several test sheets and testing the cure of the dryer. Basically, every operation that occurs from the time a pressman receives the garments and screens until the first shirt to be printed is placed on the platen constitutes setup time. When using the information from the press logs to calculate pricing and costing, many shop owners are amazed when they discover that setup can take several times as much time (and therefore cost) as the press run on very small orders. When finished setting up, the operator records the time finished, and the number of minutes that the setup process lasted.

Next, the operator records the time that production actually begins, and runs the job to it's completion or the end of the day, marking the completion time on the log. It is important that the operator record the number of pieces after production ends, because if the job is not finished at the end of the day, the log should show the production time for the number of pieces completed that day. The operator should also total the running time of the job at this point.

When the job is finished, the press operator should denote the time he or she began to take down the job. Takedown usually includes removing excess ink from the screens, and cleaning platens. Takedown might also include removing the tape from the perimeter or back side of the screens as well, depending on whether this is done by the pressman or by the reclaiming people. When finished, the press operator denotes the time on the log, and subtracts the takedown beginning time from the takedown end time to arrive at the total takedown time. The operator may add comments about this run in the space provided if he or she deems necessary.

Back to Index Page