Production Jobs in Publishing

The production team are responsible for transforming the typescript or disk of the manuscript and a collection of images and page designs into the finished book product. Production's principle role is to ensure that the processes of typesetting, proofing, printing, binding and delivery happen within budget and to schedule.

From the outset of a project the production department will be asked for cost estimates; where the extent of books (number of pages), stock to be printed on (paper and cover board), number of copies and selling price will be determined. Throughout the book production process the production team is in constant liaison with all departments, to make sure everything happens as and when it should. Production people need to be highly organised, it is a case of managing many projects with different suppliers and editorial teams at the same time. In addition, production staff need to be numerate and commercially aware, always prepared to negotiate with suppliers. They need to keep up-to-date with latest book production processes - typesetting, origination and printing - as it is the production team's responsibility to ensure that each product is produced to the highest standards within the given schedules and budgets.