Is your Igen a big Turd?

I want to apologize for offending peeps on this site. I feel bad and sometimes I am a little harsh on Xerox.
The Igen is a good press. But it does have it's issues which are not operator related. The Igen could do better.
in heavy Coverage it's a hit or miss. Light blues, Browns, Violets, Oranges, Greys in covering the entire sheet banding is a problem.

As far as the Xerox Tech's go. Some of them are better than others. Not all of them are bad. There are a few I deal with that I respect
and are good knowledgeable tech's than there are others I don't respect at all. That's probably where most of my frustration lies. Because I get
the bad tech's more than the good tech's and it's like pulling teeth with some to get them to diagnose an issue and it can be ridiculous. In the end
I am always right and I get it fixed. LOL

But overall I would agree with Xfactor (Did I just say that). Yes the Igen is probably the best digital press on the market.
 
Yeah I've easily gotten 2M clicks before requiring service, and I'm not certified either. With that said, it's not an easy job by any means and the pay usually isn't as high as it should be. And I'll agree that Xerox can be a pain to work with. Just keep in mind that they are running a business too. You have to meet them half way. Also, I've worked with several operators who treat their machines like crap, slamming doors and baffles, blaming all the problems on the machine like it makes conscious decisions. I think the reason being this job is so challenging is because it tests your skills in multiple areas: logical reasoning, mechanical, managerial, interpersonal...not to mention stress management, memory, and patience. Personally, I'm saving up to go back to school, I know this isn't the job for me.
 
    • IgenSkeptic is correct! Banding on solids and screens is an issue. The Tech's in my part of the world (Just a few miles from Rochester N.Y.) are all excellent. I feel you when it comes down to some Tech's, it's hit or miss. Just remember one thing, at the end of the day whether you get a good or bad Tech the customer is always right.:cool:

    lopeza
     
    MarkD said:
    As a Xerox Tech here in the UK I take offence to that. As for your "they don't run very long" I have just returned to an iGen4 that has done 1.4million prints since the last service call that I attended.

    The iGen is only as good as the operator in my experience



    --
    Mark
    Click to expand...
    I disagree with the machine is only as good as its operator. I do everything by the book and get shabby results from these machines. If your car broke down 4 times a week is it only as good as its driver? I dont think so.
     
    LeeB said:
    I disagree with the machine is only as good as its operator. I do everything by the book and get shabby results from these machines. If your car broke down 4 times a week is it only as good as its driver? I dont think so.
    Click to expand...

    That's because the book is limited. Xerox only teaches you so much, the rest you learn over time. It ensures that you will need service...at least that's my opinion anyway. There is a method to the madness though. It helps me to keep a log of machine problems so I can see when they are serviced and what the technician did to solve the problem. I also record when I change parts or perform maintenance so I can possibly link problems to something I did. I have my other two operators do the same so I can see what they did on their shifts.

    Most problems are easily fixable. But sometimes you get weird underlying problems that technicians have to take time to diagnose. Unfortunately, they are so busy usually that they do a quick-fix that only temporarily fixes the problem which is a pain. Trying to get Xerox to really fix an inconspicuous issue is a pain as well. But keep good records and be persistent. If you feel they are taking advantage of you, you can always complain to their boss. Both your company and Xerox have businesses to run, and you have to work together as partners. Consider that they don't have a whole staff just sitting around waiting to service your machine, they are very busy too. But that doesn't mean they can blow you off either. And if your business is suffering due to wasted time/productivity, then you have to make that clear. I've never had a problem with Xerox after I have made this clear.
     
    Personally, I enjoy taking potshots at Xerox...Especially true for the sales dept. It's sorta like a coping mechanism...yell for a little while, wait for service to arrive, vent, and call it a day. LOL I will say, the Igen has really made me more of a believer.

    I came into this project as a Kodak fanboy, with nothing but hatred, and contempt for Xerox(mostly because of the Docuprint series, and the misery they cause- the transfer blade thing still boggles my mind........) This hatred grew from sales telling our management what machines can do, then me having to do these same tasks...which are usually ridiculous. DUplexing 15 pt on a Sorrento? yeah I think not.... <extends middle finger>

    I haven't met much Igen can't do, but we do lower quality, higher volume sorta work. And of course some things need tweaking...oh...I don't run it NEARLY as much as most of you.

    Mine isnt a turd really....but I bet I call it one when it doesnt do what I want, and I have to stay late to get some $hit done. :)
     
    LeeB said:
    I disagree with the machine is only as good as its operator. I do everything by the book and get shabby results from these machines. If your car broke down 4 times a week is it only as good as its driver? I dont think so.
    Click to expand...
    Well said Lee. Some of these tech's are clowns.
     
    i think this is an excellant responce very clever individual,, having worked for xerox and now outside the company it is best to keep a record of all issues ,crazy i know and havent got time !! doesnt wash you have to keep notes in this big bad world and a major player and resouces at hand xerox will wipe the floor with anyone in litigation or in court
    richman said:
    That's because the book is limited. Xerox only teaches you so much, the rest you learn over time. It ensures that you will need service...at least that's my opinion anyway. There is a method to the madness though. It helps me to keep a log of machine problems so I can see when they are serviced and what the technician did to solve the problem. I also record when I change parts or perform maintenance so I can possibly link problems to something I did. I have my other two operators do the same so I can see what they did on their shifts.

    Most problems are easily fixable. But sometimes you get weird underlying problems that technicians have to take time to diagnose. Unfortunately, they are so busy usually that they do a quick-fix that only temporarily fixes the problem which is a pain. Trying to get Xerox to really fix an inconspicuous issue is a pain as well. But keep good records and be persistent. If you feel they are taking advantage of you, you can always complain to their boss. Both your company and Xerox have businesses to run, and you have to work together as partners. Consider that they don't have a whole staff just sitting around waiting to service your machine, they are very busy too. But that doesn't mean they can blow you off either. And if your business is suffering due to wasted time/productivity, then you have to make that clear. I've never had a problem with Xerox after I have made this clear.
    Click to expand...
     
    happyhammer1 said:
    i think this is an excellant responce very clever individual,, having worked for xerox and now outside the company it is best to keep a record of all issues ,crazy i know and havent got time !! doesnt wash you have to keep notes in this big bad world and a major player and resouces at hand xerox will wipe the floor with anyone in litigation or in court
    Click to expand...
    That's what printing has always been for me - creative problem solving. If you only had to click a button, anyone could do it, it wouldn't take a printer and I wouldn't have my job security :D Every day on all my machines I've ever had I have to figure out if a drum is having a problem, if a cleaning blade needs to be cleaned, if a belt is having an issue or what's causing a jam. If I called a tech every time anything went wrong I'd never get anything done. My job is to figure out how to get the job to run on time with the best quality. Sometimes I rotate. I sequence to make best use of drums. I pick which printer to use based on how things are going that day and what the job requires. On and on. Keeping a log of everything helps me keep things straight. I note counters on all the durables I replace. When I do have to call techs I then have solid information to give them and it's much easier for us bot and the chance is much better the first part they change is the right one and I don't have to wait for a second try.
     
    xfactor printing said:
    That's what printing has always been for me - creative problem solving. If you only had to click a button, anyone could do it, it wouldn't take a printer and I wouldn't have my job security :D Every day on all my machines I've ever had I have to figure out if a drum is having a problem, if a cleaning blade needs to be cleaned, if a belt is having an issue or what's causing a jam. If I called a tech every time anything went wrong I'd never get anything done. My job is to figure out how to get the job to run on time with the best quality. Sometimes I rotate. I sequence to make best use of drums. I pick which printer to use based on how things are going that day and what the job requires. On and on. Keeping a log of everything helps me keep things straight. I note counters on all the durables I replace. When I do have to call techs I then have solid information to give them and it's much easier for us bot and the chance is much better the first part they change is the right one and I don't have to wait for a second try.
    Click to expand...

    thumbs up.
     
    I have been keeping a daily detailed log since 2009 when we got our first iGen 4. The owners wanted me to do it so we had proof in case we had to go to court to get out of our lease because the machine was down so much.
     
    I think this is a good idea. However for all this work and documentation and headaches do you really feel like you are compensated for this?
     
    All part of the job I guess. Like anything some days/weeks are better then others.
     
    IgenSkeptic said:
    I think this is a good idea. However for all this work and documentation and headaches do you really feel like you are compensated for this?
    Click to expand...

    I'm sure some operators get a decent salary, but most do not. I know I don't. You'd think companies that can afford to buy an igen would be able to afford to pay their operators well, but it doesn't work that way. I asked for more money, but got declined. Sadly, I don't really have leverage. I could leave and sure they will have all kinds of problems, but they would rather bring someone in who hasn't run an igen than pay extra for someone who does. All the service calls I prevent is not recorded because they pay for full service anyway. And trying to find a good igen job without moving across the country...good luck. Haha sorry, I got a little carried away there...
     
    • xfactor printing said:
    That's what printing has always been for me - creative problem solving. If you only had to click a button, anyone could do it, it wouldn't take a printer and I wouldn't have my job security :D Every day on all my machines I've ever had I have to figure out if a drum is having a problem, if a cleaning blade needs to be cleaned, if a belt is having an issue or what's causing a jam. [[BB]If I called a tech every time anything went wrong I'd never get anything done. My job is to figure out how to get the job to run on time with the best quality[/B][/B][/B][/B]. Sometimes I rotate. I sequence to make best use of drums. I pick which printer to use based on how things are going that day and what the job requires. On and on. Keeping a log of everything helps me keep things straight. I note counters on all the durables I replace. When I do have to call techs I then have solid information to give them and it's much easier for us bot and the chance is much better the first part they change is the right one and I don't have to wait for a second try.
    Click to expand...

    I disagree problem solving is one thing troubleshooting for hours is not acceptable. These deadlines are harsh and in many cases the operator does not have time to play tech. The machines need more reliablity plain and simple. If an operator has to shut down and troubleshoot more than twice a week than there is a problem and it is not acceptable. If you have the right stock and your machine is maintained frequent problems should be obsolete in my opinion.
     
    "problem solving is one thing troubleshooting for hours is not acceptable"

    I agree....there has to be a point where you wash your hands of some problems and give xerox a lashing. Mine just happens to be further out than most.... But when I reach it....I can tell you...I don't mess around. :)
     
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