industrial training report in offset printing

Offset Printing Press Operator School Selection
Programs in printing press operation have various names, such as digital printing and flexography, graphic arts and imaging technology, printing and publishing, and others. Programs can be found at some 2-year colleges throughout the U.S. Students have several factors to consider when choosing a program.

Considerations for Choosing a Program

Level of award
Hands-on experience
Class size/access to faculty
Level of Award

Certificate programs in printing press operation teach basic technical skills needed for entry-level careers in the graphic arts industry. They can also benefit working printing press operators who want to refresh or update their skills. An associate's degree program teaches both comprehensive technical skills and business skills that qualify the student for junior management positions. Students who want to work in the printing industry while earning an associate's degree can initially pursue a certificate program with credits that can be transferred to an associate's degree program.

Hands-on Experience

Schools with updated facilities, such as state-of-the-art printing presses and computer labs, give students the practical experience they need to attract potential employers. Students are advised to select programs that offer internships, job shadowing programs, group projects, capstone design projects or other features that will help them compete in the job market.

Class Size/Access to Faculty

Lab courses with limited class sizes are more likely to provide students with adequate access to printing equipment and individualized instruction. It's also advantageous to work with faculty members who have worked in the printing industry and can provide networking opportunities.

Offset Printing Press Program Options
Printing Technology Certificate
Basic skills taught in a certificate program include operation of both sheet- and Web-fed offset presses, bindery and finishing. Students also gain knowledge of environmental and safety regulations, optimum paper choice and ink selection for each project. Courses include:

Intro to printing
Graphics printing processes
Offset press operations
Electronic publishing design
Associate's Degree in Printing Technology
Students learn chemical and mechanical safety practices, efficiency practices and customer service. They take advanced technical courses in the software programs commonly used in printing as well as general education classes in communications, English composition and psychology. These programs sometimes offer students a chance to choose a specialization, such as pre-press or finishing. Coursework includes:

Graphic reproduction methods
Adobe InDesign
Digital imposition
Employment strategies
Technical math

SHEETFED OFFSET PRESS TRAINING CURRICULUM
The Printing Industries of America Sheetfed Offset Press Training Curriculum is specially designed to expedite staff training and achieve results that translate into greater profitability. It is a complete resource that contains everything needed to deliver technical content, teach standard operating procedures, and measure trainee learning and performance. The sixth edition is even more visual, interactive, and production-oriented than ever before.

Features that enhance learning and retention include

80 problem-solving activities
100 worksheets
240 training tips from the pros
11 core subject areas organized into 44 modules
More than 500 video clips, photographs, and diagrams
More than 1,100 questions
Four key curriculum elements are designed to be used in conjunction to make a complete course. The manual and workbook are spiral-bound for lay-flat convenience.

Components include:

Instructor’s Training Manual: Two volumes packed with lesson notes, problem-solving activities, and supplementary hands-on exercises enhanced with plenty of real-life training tips, training prop ideas, checklists, and job aids.
Instructional CD-ROM: The CD illustrates principles and processes presented in the lesson notes. More than 500 movie clips photos, and illustrations are included. Templates are provided for all SOP checklists so they can be customized to a facility’s own equipment. (CD is both PC and Mac compatible.)
Trainee’s Workbook: Two volumes of note-taking outlines and study questions are provided, as well as worksheets, checklists, and other job aids for learning and quick reference.
Instructional Textbooks: Two of Printing Industry Press’s bestsellers—Sheetfed Offset Press Operating and Guide to Troubleshooting for the Sheetfed Offset Press—provide essential reading to support course material and contain valuable content for future reference.
PLUS, Trainee Recognition…
A Certificate of Completion is granted by Printing Industries of America to those trainees completing the knowledge and SOP sections of all eleven tasks (core subjects) in the course and successfully passing a final examination. The certificate is an excellent acknowledgement of a distinctive achievement in continuing education and development.