Your Creative Solution - Print Audit Principles

BRAND AWARENESS
When many individuals within a business are responsible for buying print, there is the
chance that they are not fully aware of their own brand. For example, whilst marketing
teams will be brand aware, other departments may not be and may not know the print
they are purchasing does not conform to the brand identity.
During our audit, samples from a wide range of print products will be obtained, and
each will be assessed for brand compliance. This will include the use of logos, fonts and
colours. Any variance from the corporate standard will be reported along with suitable
recommendations for more effective control.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
During our audit we will establish to what extent environmentally friendly processes
and materials are being utilised throughout the supply chain. Whilst this may or may
not be an important consideration for the client we will look to offer suggestions that
will lessen the impact on the environment.
AUDIT METHODOLOGY
The mechanisms used to collect the audit information are:
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Data collection
Purchasing analysis
Process analysis
Resource analysis
DATA COLLECTION
In order to make a meaningful analysis, the audit needs to collect information about
products representing 70% - 80% of the total spend. This is not normally as difficult
as it may appear as this can usually be obtained from 20% of the items. Samples of
each item will be obtained and a questionnaire for each completed. The key questions
relating to each item are:
Annual consumption versus normal order quantity - used to determine purchasing
patterns and establish whether or not best value is being obtained.
Expenditure on product - to provide an accurate assessment of current spend and
show the extent to which cost can be reduced.
Current supplier - to evaluate the extent and nature of the supplier base.
Whether or not the product is business critical - used in the analysis of risk mitigation.
The purpose of the item - used to understand the function of the item.
How the item is created/amended - used to understand the artwork/
origination process.
Whether or not the product could be improved in anyway – to establish whether the
product is fit for purpose and facilitate process improvement.
Part of the data collection is normally facilitated through individual meetings with the
end user. This provides a vital opportunity to understand how the products are used
in the business process and enables us to consider solutions that will benefit both the
user and your business as a whole.