Its geographic diversity is startling . In fact, commercial printing ranks among the top ten employers in 47 states. Not even more visible industries, such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, or automotive, come close to this geographic employment powerhouse. Today s commercial printing industry is in a period of dynamic transition. Digital technology and the growth of the Internet are causing profound changes to the structure of this industry.
Printers are on the leading edge of the information revolution.
No longer is the printer limited to the traditional role of transforming raw information provided by their customer into a finished information product on paper. The result is an industry that is growing, pioneering new technologies and creating new employment opportunities. Success for printers now requires that they operate as a digital information management business. This has required a major retooling of the plant as well as an equally extensive retraining of the workforce, and training for people about to enter the printing industry. Workers must cease to think of themselves as makers of things and become managers of processes.