Bowne – “Huge Corporation”

Pros

Solid benefits.

Solid training department. Training & learning materials are updated constantly and easily attainable. Trainers are highly competent and actually teach, as opposed to just regurgitating outlines or throwing a manual at you and telling you to read it.

Bowne has protocol for work processes that emphasize consistency and organization in the daily workflow. On the composition side, at least, the workflow is pretty streamlined. There is a lot less confusion than at other printers.

Cons

Departments can be somewhat compartmentalized so that you are stuck doing limited tasks. For example, typesetters rarely get to edit or manipulate graphics. Also, all the XBRL work is oursourced in its entirety and there doesn't seem to be any plans to train people on this type of work in offices like New York.

While the workflow protocols are extremely helpful in streamlining and maintaining order, it can mean a lot of red tape in getting a simple task done.

IT services has been outsourced. God help you if you have computer, database, access or networking issues.

The BIGGEST CON of all: Typesetting is pretty much a dead trade; the printing industry is dying; the financial industry is in the toilet and has changed forever. Typesetting in a printing environment for the financial industry? That's 3 strikes. Bowne has an extensive offshore typesetting repository. Most of the work is farmed out.

Advice to Senior Management

You can not outsource EVERYTHING and ENTIRE departments all together and still expect to maintain a high, or even a decent, level of service.