1.      Ink In-Plant - role & responsibilities

a)        General:

• To ensure that all DIC personnel operate safely within the customers premises at all times

b)        Production support & Inventory management:

• To calculate finished ink requirements against the customer’s production schedule to meet production requirements.
• To compare production requirements against finished ink stock.
• To blend finished inks as necessary to meet any calculated shortfall.
• For each programmed design, to issue appropriate quantities of inks, to a designated point in the plant for use on line, prior to the commencement of that label’s production.
• At the end of each design’s production, to remove inks from the line, back to the ink storage area.
• To calculate the consumed quantity of each ink and enter the consumption into DIC’s bespoke “In-plant Database” software system.
• To obtain data on the number of cans produced of each label from the customer.
• To enter can production data into the In-plant Database.
• To manage/optimise the presentation and format of the reports to best meet the customer’s requirements.
• To manage the stock of DIC single-pigment ink bases to ensure that the customer’s production requirements can be met at all times.
• To provide the customer’s purchasing/procurement function with the necessary order quantities for replenishment of consumed materials in a timely fashion.
• To liaise with DIC’s manufacturing and logistics functions to ensure replenishments are received in the necessary timeframes.
• To ensure that the combination of single-pigment ink bases and finished ink stock level, held in the customer’s DOH inventory on-site, is maintained within the current industry standard of “90 days of sales”.
• To work towards DIC’s continuous improvement target for ink inventory DOH of “60 days of sales”.

c)        On-site Ink blending

• To blend finished inks for use on line from single-pigment finished bases as required.
• To optimise the rheology and colour properties of the finished inks issued to the line to ensure best possible performance is experienced by the customer.
• To ensure that unwarranted excess ink is not produced compared to the customer’s production schedule, thereby minimising finished-ink stock held in the customer’s inventory.
• To utilise DIC’s bespoke “Ink Manufacture” software system to ensure that any superfluous or slow-moving finished ink stock is re-worked into faster-moving stock wherever possible.

d)        On-site (rapid turn-around) colour-matching

• To match new ink colours to customer’s requirements
• To ensure that colour-matchings are completed and returned to the customer in the shortest possible time frame, allowing for the demands of on-site ink production, technical support and appropriate working hours etc.
• To provide rollouts and wet samples for off line proofing purpose.

e)        Technical support

• To provide technical support and assistance to the customer in the event of an on-line ink performance issue.
• To provide this service both during normal working hours and out-of-hours on a call-out basis in an emergency.
• To work with the customer to optimise the on-line performance of DIC inks, liaising with DIC’s manufacturing, technical & development functions where necessary.
• To provide first-line technical advice and support for other DIC materials purchased and run in the customer’s plant.

f)         Consumption Management

• To review consumption data of DIC ink.
• To provide consumption & cost reports as outlined above
• To identify where opportunities exist for ink consumption reduction activity.
• To agree programs with the customer to enable identified consumption reduction activity.
• To implement agreed programs, in co-operation with the customer and report on outcome.

2.        Customer’s roles & responsibilities

a)        Facilities

• To provide a working area suitable for an In-Plant operation – this should include:
• Desk & Chair
• Telephone line
• Internet connection
• Work-bench space for printing equipment, oven and colour-matching activity (approx 2m)
• Electrical connections for lab equipment and mixers (single phase 240v)
• Storage area for single-pigment bases and finished inks (either sufficient floor or safe shelf space)

b)        Production information

• To provide the DIC in-plant technician with a production schedule in sufficient time to allow for stock checking and on-site production of any ink shortfalls.
• To provide the DIC in-plant technician with data on the number of cans produced (including any cans isolated post-decoration) of each design produced.

c)        Colour-matching

• To provide the DIC in-plant technician with plant design colour-standards for colour matching.
• To provide access to competitive ink samples to match inks were the colour is difficult or impossible to accurately determine from a colour standard e.g. screened or vignetted inks.
• To provide colour swatches, pantone numbers, competitive ink rollouts or a competitor’s standard can for any new matchings / designs that the plant require DIC to colour-match.
• To provide 1 set of Light/Standard/Dark cans after off line proofing, so that DIC can check against rollouts provided to customer.
• If deviation from rollouts on Light/Standard/Dark cans is noticed, DIC to rematch the required inks and present to customer for verification. 
• Customer needs to sign off final rollouts provided for the design prior to the design going on line.