For those less acquainted with the concepts of lean manufacturing, or lean production:  Lean is about increasing efficiency to offer greater value to a customer or client.  Another way to phrase: Lean is about preserving value with less work.  This approach can create savings through efficiency which can be shared between reduced costs to the customer and greater profit to the business.

Rick shared “We are only at the beginning of implementing lean in our (newspaper) organizations and most would benefit from a structured lean program” in response to the the question:  “How much further can this concept be taken into our daily practice?”

Please see the complete “Interview with Rick Ruffino” article by Charlotte Janischewski.

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

Article from News & Tech | October 2009

Click the following link to see the original Article.

ArcWest Architects is pleased to announce that Rick Ruffino will be joining the ArcWest team on August 3rd, 2009 as a Partner.

Mr. Ruffino is a veteran newspaper and publishing executive who brings his corporate experience in planning, project and business management to ArcWest’s existing strengths in architecture and engineering.  His experience in developing and implementing sustainable outsourcing solutions and guiding complex software and equipment projects is unmatched.

Mr Ruffino was the Director of Manufacturing, for the US outsourcing group at Transcontinental, Inc. and continues to assist that team with the successful start up of the new Fremont, CA facility printing the San Francisco Chronicle.

If you would like to speak with Rick to learn more about how the ArcWest team can assist your organization thrive in this challenging market, please contact him directly at:

Office           303.455.7741

Mobile          303.881.3445

rruffino@arcwestarchitects.com

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

The orignal article can be seen by clicking: “Wash. Publisher Moves to New Digs”

Skagit Valley Publishing Office Entrance

It’s very satisfying to walk into the New Facility, see the final product being utilized as envisioned, and that the employees appear excited and energized by the new space.

Please feel free to contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our company and services.

- Robin Adams

New Facility Open

ArcWest believes the new facility is a “great” building!  It is always a pleasure to work with Pioneer and each of their newspapers.  Stedem Wood and his management team were actively involved in every aspect of design and implementation.

Stedem Wood and Tom Blumenshine overlooking the new Press Installation

Please see the news brief at the Pioneer Newspapers website: Open for business

Big Thank you, from ArcWest Architects

Why would one choose this type of specialized consultant over the local generalist architect?

The easy answer to this is one of experience, knowledge, and economy.  The generalist design consultant is one who is very well versed in the design of facilities for a wide range of clients.  This requires them to spread their project research out thinly over a diverse project type and to also spend a greater amount of time on the initial research for a particular project.  Every prudent design professional will initially research the project type in general during the pre-design phases to allow them to understand the information received when developing a project program.  The Newspaper Architect will have this initial research completed to a much greater extent before the project inception.  This greater level of understanding allows the Newspaper Architect to ask more finely tuned and insightful questions during the pre-design phases, which will ultimately result in a facility that meets the needs of the process to a greater degree.

ArcWest Architects Design for a New Facility:
Skagit Valley Publishing

The experience that comes with the specialist Architect also allows a greater depth of knowledge to draw on when searching for alternatives to complex process needs.   The Newspaper Architect will have completed numerous facilities within their specialty and each of these facilities would have had their own set of challenges that had to be solved.  Having these solutions to draw on will allow a greater flexibility in solving the unique set of problems that comes with a new design.

Finally the often overlooked and misunderstood reason for hiring a Newspaper Consultant Architect is for value.  In essence the experience gained by concentrating on one industry will allow the specialist architect to understand the process, vocabulary, and equipment in such a way that ideas and solutions can be arrived at while expending less time in the process.  The understanding of the infrastructure require for the equipment will result in less time and money during installation when it comes to closing the last “10 feet” between the equipment and the building infrastructure.

What does a Newspaper Specific Architect bring to the table?  They bring:

• An understanding of the industry dynamics

• An understanding of the vocabulary

• An understanding of the equipment and its requirements

• Knowledge of structures / facilities uniquely geared toward industry

• Knowledge of materials to economically address rigors of the industry

• Speed and efficiency in design, saving the client both time & money

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

- Todd Heirls

West Elevation of the New Office Building (September 2008)

The project is nearing completion with the final efforts of construction focusing on finishes, details, data communications installation.  Concurrently, the installation of the new DGM press is underway in the Production Wing.  The mailroom / packaging equipment will be soon to follow.  The office furniture has been delivered with installation tentative for early December.  The Skagit Valley staff is looking forward to moving in to the completed facility by the new year.

The construction photographs have been grouped by the years annual seasons corresponding to the construction phases of the building project, with the start of construction occurring in the early spring.  (Note: You will need to scroll past the introduction of the updated project page to see the newly added photo galleries composed at the bottom.)

ArcWest’s partner, Todd Heirls will be on the (Mount Vernon, WA) project site next week for the monthly construction administration visit.  We look forward to sharing more photographs in the very near future following this visit.

- Robin Adams

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

Plunging advertising revenue and increased operating cost are changing the way newspaper organizations operate.  To substantially reduce cost, product size is being reduced, production is being consolidated and facilities are being closed.

Historically, reductions in front office staff news reporters, advertising reps. and graphic artist were off limits.  It was assumed that these positions generate income; reduction of front-office staff would negatively affect quality and the bottom line.  The economic realities of today are testing this assumption.

Straus Newspaper Offices

ArcWest Architects partners are experts in the planning, layout and design of newspaper operations. This article will set aside the reasons for our current economic environment and its effect on this industry for others to examine.  What this document provides is a brief outline of real opportunities that arise from front-office vacated square footage & staff reductions.

Functional opportunities:

• Resolve existing layout and ADA accessibility deficiencies
• Eliminate redundancies and improve the flow of information
• Break down departmental barriers
• Integrate print and web news gathering and advertising
• Facilitate employee cross training & multitasking

Income generating opportunities:

• Lease vacated square footage to third parties
• Eliminate expenses by returning off-site leased space

ArcWest is a cost effective and flexible organization able to respond to the demands and needs of our clients.  We look forward to becoming part of your team in search of new and beneficial ways to reduce front-office operating cost while improving products & services.

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.

September 2007 – “ArcWest is unique because they’re a group of world-class listeners who understand budgetary constraints and deliver projects on time. What more can you ask for in an architectural firm?” – Jeanne Straus, President