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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - MAY 2013
velop it into a custom sign. One of the
most important phases is the discov-
ery.
Then, we move into design and
development. The graphic design part
of the process works with colours, and
technical design involves structural
engineering and mechanical design.
Our planning and permitting phase
involves going to the municipality for
permits. Each exterior sign requires
permits, at which point when we re-
ceive approval we move into engineer-
ing, then manufacturing, and then
installation.
Steve
:
Part of that discovery is
that we designate who will manage
the project, someone who will live and
breathe the project. The sales person is
very much a part of this.
The customer always gives us the
most information through the discov-
ery phase, and this is where we man-
age their expectations for budget and
guide them to a solution.
Mitch
:
There are always custom-
ers who will want a $200,000 sign for
$20,000. What we have to do is inter-
pret what that customer wants and
how much they want to spend.
One thing I want to stress is that
every single project that comes into
our plant is unique. We are a job shop
facility and not a production line man-
facturing facility. This makes us able
to make any kind of sign. But this also
means we aren’t able to use the lat-
est in production line manufacturing
processes because each and every sign
process is different. Our competitive
niche is engineered and specialty man-
ufactured signage capabilities.
How important is company cul-
ture and staff expertise to Knight
Signs?
Steve
:
The key ingredient to
Knight Signs is people. In every de-
partment we have the best people
available to fill those specialty roles.
Together our people have hundreds of
years of combined experience. We can
have the best tools, but our people’s
collective experience is our foundation.
We have a layout and routing depart-
ment, fabrication, electrical, paint, as-
sembly, vinyl, and a neon department,
all with the best technicians.
Roland
:
Our people are master
craftsmen.
This carries into each project. One
of the things that has changed in our
industry is working with LED. This
affects the time to do a project and
KNIGHT SIGNS
