| Abstract: | This research was conducted to analyze the Print Industry in general and identify the
challenges related to the Ethiopian Governmental Printing Enterprises specifically and
indicating possible areas of improvement. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. It covered all public enterprises namely: Brana, Brihanina Selam and Educational
materials printing enterprises. In Addition, though Artistic printing enterprise was recently
privatized, its management bodies were included in the study as the study was started before
the privatization. The study was primary qualitative as its purpose was exploration of the
major challenges of public printing enterprise in the country, an area where there is a dearth
of studies. A total of 13 key informants selected purposively based on their knowledge of the
enterprises operation and the sector participated in the study. This includes top management
members of the enterprises, department heads, suppliers and customers of the enterprises.
Besides, the limited available literatures were used as secondary sources. The findings of the
study revealed that the major challenges of the enterprises are shortage of skilled manpower,
inability to use available and acquired machineries, shortage of spare parts, prolonged
procurement procedures, quality issues related with use of older technologies and human
factor, and less control of investment on growth. To address the challenges improving the
enterprises straining system using well developed curriculums and mentoring, developing a
clear strategy and process for the technology transfer from the use of old machines to the
acquired machines, and improving the planning system to overcome the raw materials
procurement challenges were suggested. In addition, in the medium and long term the
government may need to consider investing on academic and technical education
opportunities related to the print industry, allow the enterprises to retain a certain
percentage of their profits for investment and growth. Further, the government need to
consider enhancing the local suppliers’ capacity to facilitate the overall development of the
print industry and address challenges related to supply of materials, spare parts and
maintenance. |
