In this interview, Manoj Mathew, Assistant General Manager - Technical, tells WAN-IFRA's Anand Srinivasan about the company's motivation for taking part in the contest, the challenges they faced and the benefits they see from belonging to the INCQC.

There are a number of good reasons to participate in this contest. What was your strongest motivation?

The quality of the printed product will change dramatically when participating in such contests. This contest also helps us to print with the highest print quality standard. “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach our potential … these are the keys that unlock the door to excellence” was our strongest motivation.

How did you prepare for the contest? What was the biggest challenge?

Participating in the QES 2013 programme conducted by WAN-IFRA Research and Material Testing Centre helped us initially. From there on, we adjusted dot gain curves, press curves and standardised raw materials. Obtaining the correct grey balances was the biggest challenge.

Did you use the self-check possibility? What were your experiences?

Yes we did use the self-check possibility as this was a very important tool to enable us monitor our performance prior to the final printed copies being sent to Germany. The self-check also helped us to understand our weaker areas for improvement.

Every copy evaluation is followed by an individual and detailed report. Did these reports help you in your quality optimisation process?

These detailed reports helped us to identify the problems, perform root cause analysis, take corrective action if any and monitor the recurrences of the problems to sustain the quality.

What does it mean to your company to be internationally recognised for belonging to the world's best in newspaper print quality?

In fact, it is a great honour to be part of the world’s best in newspaper print quality. This recognition shall help us in adding value to our customers, sustaining the future and developing our organisational capabilities. This recognition also helps us create enthusiasm for progress by delivering consistent print quality product to our customers/readers.

Do you plan to participate next time?

Yes, and we are targeting to be a part of the Star Club as well.

About the INCQC: Once every two years for the past 20 years, WAN-IFRA has offered newspapers worldwide an opportunity to demonstrate their colour printing quality through the International Newspaper Color Quality Club. Newspapers that succeed in qualifying for inclusion can draw on this distinction to optimise their work processes, motivate their personnel, improve their standing among their readers and convince demanding advertising customers.

The Color Quality Club is more than a technical printing competition, as it offers the participating companies the additional possibility to benchmark their printing quality against recognised international standards and improve it. Detailed individual reports basis for quality optimisation founded on objective measuring methods and quality judgements by a jury composed of international experts. More on the INCQC can be found at http://www.wan-ifra.org/microsites/color-quality-club

A list of the winners for INCQC 2014-2016 is available here.

WAN-IFRA will induct 76 publishing and printing companies from 26 countries into its International Newspaper Color Quality Club during a ceremony at the World Publishing Expo, the largest global trade exhibition for the news publishing and media industry, in Amsterdam from 13 to 15 October.