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STANDARDISATION

Conference with panel discussions in Paris

  • Fachkonferenz Paris - Podiumsdiskussion
  • Fachkonferenz Paris - Podiumsdiskussion Industrie
  • Fachkonferenz Paris - Podiumsdiskussion Einkäufer
  • Fachkonferenz Paris - Podiumsdiskussion Berater und Experten
  • GAC und Ugra an der Fachkonferenz in Paris

Standardisation: An indispensable driver of performance for the modern printing industry

Between productivity gains and workforce restructuring – a review of the expert discussions held across three panel sessions on the topic of standardisation in the graphics industry.

At the industry event, moderated by Christophe Villar (Director of GAC), representatives from printing companies, buyers of printed materials and consultancy firms discussed standardisation and certification in accordance with the ProcessStandard Offset.

1

Panel Discussion 1 – Case Studies from Industry

Focus on productivity gains and the economic impact of standardisation.

  • Eric Wauters, Managing Director of the Wauters Group, CEO of CH-WAUTERS ET FILS
  • Abderrazak Benalia, Technical Director of Printing, Wauters Group
  • Georges Moreira, CEO, Antoli Imprimeur Packaging
  • Mathilde Lu, Quality Manager and PSO Lead, Antoli Imprimeur Packaging
  • Charlène Dupuy, Sales and Marketing, Antoli Imprimeur Packaging
2

Panel discussion 2 – The perspective of print clients

Why clients prefer print shops that have standardised their production processes.

  • Julien Baléria, Prepress Manager, Glénat
  • Emma Gery, Marketing Manager, On The Wild Side Cosmetics
  • Marie Blaquière, Operations Manager, On The Wild Side Cosmetics
3

Panel discussion no. 3 – Consultants and industry experts

Implementing certification in companies: challenges in France and addressing misconceptions regarding the complexity of standardisation.

  • Emmanuelle Dault, Deputy Managing Director, Ugra Swisstesting AG
  • Céline Zanutto, Prepress Consultant, GAC
  • David Bompas, Press Consultant, GAC

«PSO is, above all, a collective project»

Georges Moreira, Antoli Imprimeur Packaging

“Why change a method that has worked for 25 years?” This is the question consultants are repeatedly faced with during their first assignments in companies. Whilst this question is valid, it often obscures an economic reality: in a highly competitive market, habit is sometimes the enemy of profitability. The panel discussion featuring experienced consultants Céline Zanutto (GAC), David Bompas (GAC) and Emmanuelle Dault (Ugra) provided an opportunity to shed light on the real challenges of standardisation (PSO/ISO 12647-2), which go far beyond simply obtaining a certificate.

Analysis: Balancing staffing challenges and financial viability

The implementation of a standardisation process consistently raises three major concerns among print shops: the immediate costs, uncertainty regarding return on investment (ROI), and resistance to change. However, experts agree that the investment – estimated at between €15,000 and €20,000 for consultancy support – will quickly pay for itself through operational gains.

PSO is, above all, a collective project

The success of standardisation depends not only on the calibration of the machines, but also on acceptance by the teams. The following points have been identified as crucial:
  1. The commitment of senior management is essential to driving the project’s vision forward.
  2. Internal communication must break down silos, particularly the long-standing ‘battle’ between the pre-press and print departments.
  3. Valuing employees’ expertise makes it possible to break old habits and build more stable, collaborative structures.

«Quality is in our DNA»

Emma Gery, On the Wild Side Cosmetics

Measurable increases in productivity

According to industry representatives, the benefits of standardisation can be expressed in concrete figures that have a direct impact on business results:
  • In pre-press, the automation of file checking has reduced processing time by 50%.
  • In production, paper waste during colouring has been reduced by between 15% and 80%, depending on the process.
  • Overall, a standardised company has been able to increase its gross operating surplus by an average of 5%.
  • Complaints have been reduced by 50%.
  • Set-up times were reduced by a factor of three on average and in some cases even by a factor of ten, particularly for orders from customers in the cosmetics and luxury goods industries.
  • Wauters reduced production from three shifts to two shifts (no redundancies, retirements or voluntary departures).
  • Communication between the various departments improved significantly, particularly between pre-press and printing.

AI: The solution to the challenge of documentation

One of the biggest obstacles to standardisation is the significant amount of documentation required (procedures, work instructions). Artificial intelligence is now proving to be a valuable tool for:
  • supporting the creation of internal processes.
  • structure documentation quickly and consistently.
  • free up employees’ time for tasks with higher added value.

Certification vs. standardisation

The debate also centred on the need for official certification. Although some printers standardise their processes, they are reluctant to seek certification in order to avoid recurring costs (around €10,000 over three years). Nevertheless, the debate revealed that certification remains a powerful driver for uniting the company around a common goal and ensuring the continuity of expertise in the face of staff turnover. Emma Gery, Marketing Manager at On the Wild Side Cosmetics, confirms that, following numerous problems with their previous suppliers, they decided to work with a PSO-certified print shop. The appearance of their packaging is of the utmost importance to them, and it is therefore essential that the print quality remains identical from one production batch to the next. Thanks to this change, they have ensured that the printed packaging from their supplier now consistently meets their expectations.

Conclusion: Standardisation as a strategic guide

In summary, standardisation should not be viewed as a technical constraint or an unnecessary expense, but rather as a comprehensive strategy for continuous improvement. It not only helps to safeguard production and reduce external non-conformities, but also strengthens the company’s brand image in the eyes of increasingly demanding clients.

The survival of a printing company in 2026 depends on its ability to transform artisanal methods into robust industrial processes. Standardisation is not an end in itself, but the foundation upon which tomorrow’s agility is built. For managers who are still hesitant, the recommendation is clear: proceed step by step, one process at a time, to ensure that all employees are fully committed to the path towards excellence.

STANDARDISATION ISO/TC 130

  • ISO/TC 130 WG3 Meeting in Paris

From 20 to 24 April 2026, over 50 experts from around the world will gather for the spring meeting of the ISO/TC 130 standards committee. The meeting, which took place in the heart of the French capital, Paris, was accompanied by a specialist conference featuring panel discussions, in which users from the local printing industry took part.

What we offer

Certification to swissPSO® (offset printing) and swissPSD® (digital printing)

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