Mark Mathews

Print management is nobody’s idea of a good time. $340K in annual savings. Including $43K for devices that weren’t even in use. The lift was real. The return was worth it. Great job Noah McCown

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Today Portland Business Journal published my perspective on how tariffs are affecting small American manufacturers. The public debate often frames tariffs as purely “good” or “bad.” From the factory floor, we see the reality is more nuanced. In the article, I share practical observations from inside a U.S.-based manufacturing company: • How tariff uncertainty affects retailer capital decisions • Why predictability often matters more than percentage • Where domestic supply chains gain a relative advantage • And how consumer behavior is quietly shifting toward quality and locality This admittedly is not a global macro view and not a reflection of long-term impact. It’s a real-time perspective from a small American manufacturer navigating today’s environment. I'd value hearing from other operators, retailers, or investors and think it will help a healthy, larger dialogue on the topic: What are you seeing on the ground right now and what's working or not? https://lnkd.in/g3AU5z4K #Manufacturing #SmallBusiness #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #Tariffs #AmericanMade #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

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Budget season is quickly approaching, are you overlooking print? For many purchasing leaders, printing is a line item that quietly eats away at margins. With Managed Print Services (MPS), you can turn that “necessary cost” into measurable savings, security, and efficiency gains. As you plan 2026 budgets, ask your vendors: * What % of our print spend is hidden in supplies, downtime, or energy? * How much can you reduce our total cost of ownership in year one? * What reporting do you provide to prove the savings? * How do you secure sensitive documents in a hybrid workplace? * Can your solution scale across multiple sites as our needs grow? At Pacific Office Automation, we help organizations answer these questions and deliver the data you need to defend your budget decisions. If you’re finalizing budgets now, check out this blog. It will be a good resource for you. POA Blogs: https://lnkd.in/gtKgj69G #POA #ProblemSolved #ProblemSolvers

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It’s one thing to look at KPIs and say, “We’re behind.” It’s another to know what behaviors are getting in the way. That’s the power of KBIs—Key Behavior Indicators. In this article, Jim Boomer shares how firms are using KBIs to track things like client follow-ups, internal collaboration, or adoption of new tech. It gives leaders better visibility into what’s working—and what needs support. If you’re tired of reacting to lagging metrics, this is a great place to start: https://boomer.link/qfp #AccountingLeadership #ProcessImprovement #TalentDevelopment #KBIs

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Is your print operation still tied to single-vendor automation tools while running equipment from multiple manufacturers? Most modern print shops operate mixed fleets—utilizing Canon inkjet, Ricoh cutsheet, and Xerox monochrome devices. Yet, many still rely on vendor-specific workflow tools that don't integrate with each other. Solimar's Chemistry Platform changes the game with true platform independence. Whether you're routing AFP from mainframe systems or optimizing PDFs across diverse DFEs, their suite (SPDE, Rubika, ReadyPDF, SOLitrack) delivers unified control without vendor lock-in. The result? Easier client onboarding, seamless job pivoting across devices, and built-in compliance features for regulated documents. Time to ask: Is your automation empowering growth or holding you back? https://buff.ly/oMxRjAS #PrintAutomation #WorkflowOptimization #PrintProduction #DocumentManagement

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Choosing a managed print partner isn’t about who can print. It’s about who can manage complexity. As programs scale, the real priorities are control, visibility, and consistency—across vendors, locations, and timelines. The strongest partners don’t just execute print. They reduce risk, simplify operations, and protect the brand. #ManagedPrint #OperationalExcellence #EnterprisePrint #TaylorCommercialPrint

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