TJ International is adding a layer of executive management in order to better develop its strategic direction.
It has recruited David Poxon, technical manager and quality manager from Kawasaki Precision Machinery, as fulfilment leader in the Padstow factory. Peter Leach has joined the business from Polestar Wheatons as business leader to take responsibility for customer service and sales areas.
“This will allow me and Andy Vosper to develop the next stage of the business,” says CEO Angus Clark. “We have not been looking strategically enough because we have to put in the time to run the business. This is why we have put in a team to run the operation.”
As well as Poxon and Leach, the executive team includes head of finance Richard Cox and HR specialist Clare Wilder. “David Poxon brings in the skills in continuous improvement and just in time manufacturing that go along with our ISO certifications. There are quite a lot of similarities between what he was doing and book manufacturing,” says Clark.
The step follows a round of investment which has included a Canon Océ ColorStream 3500 colour inkjet press and a full Kolbus bindery. It is the impact of automation that this investment that the new team will tap into. It was certainly part of the appeal for Leach, who replied to an advertisement after urging by a number of publisher customers.
“TJ International has become one of the most efficient book manufacturers in the UK, on the cutting edge in terms of print on demand and inkjet printing,” Leach says. “We are here to help the business step up a gear and to increase its presence in the market place.
”He will drive customer service to new levels, supported by the manufacturing platform. It is all about systems and procedures. Fulfilment is not just about ink on paper, it’s about all the stuff around data flows, automation of the workflows and for book printers it’s about how to produce short runs and the mindset to support this.
“David’s deep knowledge of manufacturing procedures is absolutely incredible, looking at things in a different way. What used to about production of 1,000 books to reach a turnover of say £12 million is not about achieving the turnover with single-copy print runs and how you achieve that. It is a complete cultural change,” he says.
“Five years ago book production was all about unit cost and reducing paper quality if necessary to achieve that. Now it is quite the opposite. The book is the premier product that it always used to be. Consequently we are very focused on producing high quality books, whether soft back or hard cover.”
Freed from day to day manufacturing and customer service issues, Clark and Vosper will be able to look further ahead. “We will be looking to have discussions with publishers, other book printers and suppliers about possible partnerships,” he says.
Angus Clark and Andy Vosper are adopting more strategic roles within TJ International as the company names a team of managers to run the business on an operational basis.
