Since its establishment in 1991, Sign Biz, Inc. has been a leader in developing national distribution programs. Our experience guarantees customized design, timely implementation, and outstanding service for your national account program. Some national suppliers are driven by the value of their share price. To a Sign Biz Network Member, only one thing determines "shareholder value" - complete customer satisfaction. Sign Biz Network distribution benefits, product selection, ordering conveniences, billing & payment options, we combine national program benefits with local service advantages. Want more information? Visit the Sign Biz Network Pro Site! What is the National Adentity Program System? The National Adentity Program (NAP) System is a standardized on-scene installation management concept designed specifically to allow Sign Biz professionals to adopt an integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of any single account or nationwide account roll-out without delays and without dilution of a corporate identity's quality image. In the late 1990s, this program was developed to manage installation of missing children's images on OTR trucks nationwide and to address the following problems: Too many people reporting to one supervisor; Different program roll-out structures; Lack of reliable distribution; Inadequate and incompatible communications; Lack of structure for coordinated planning among installers; Unclear lines of authority; Terminology differences among manufacturers; and Unclear or unspecified installation objectives. "The Sign Biz professional has earned high marks not only for the quality of the work produced for clients ranging from the corner florist to the Fortune 500, but also for the high level of service provided. The unified "concept to completion" approach offered by this highly integrated chain is an ideal that finds no equal in the marketplace." Many corporate and chain accounts have endorsed the use of the Sign Biz Network and its Members. Visit our account page here: National Accounts. The Sign Biz NAP system, ADENTITY, enables integrated communication and planning by establishing a manageable span of control. Adentity separates a nationwide roll-out of either sign programs or branding elements into five manageable functions essential for timely and uniform response and installation: Management, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance and Administration. Figure 1 shows a typical NAP structure. The following is a list of the duties generally associated with each NAP function: Account Manager  Adentity Account Staff Information Specialist Liaison Code Specialist General Staff Planning Logistics Finance and Administrative Network Service Centers Local Partner Installation Manufacturing Related Information: Miles of Hope Campaigns Sign Biz Organization Staff Frequently Asked Questions The Sign Biz ADENTITY Staff The Account Manager (AM) is responsible for all aspects of the response, including developing installation objectives and managing all program roll-out operations. The AM is faced with many responsibilities when he/she manages an account. Some of the more complex responsibilities include: Establish immediate priorities, especially the expectations of the client, other participants such as marketing firms, and the Sign Biz Network Local Partner who will be involved in the project. Stabilize the installation by ensuring life safety and managing resources efficiently and cost effectively. Determine installation objectives and strategy to achieve the objectives. Establish and monitor installation and manufacturing. Approve the implementation of a written Installation Action Plan. Ensure regional and state code requirements are met.   The Account Staff   The Adentity Account Staff is responsible for public affairs, code compliance, and liaison activities within the account management structure.  The Information Specialist’s role is to develop and gather information about the account from the client, their marketing personnel, and other appropriate departments. The Liaison's role is to serve as the point of contact for assisting and coordinating activities between the AM and various Local Partners and groups. This may include permitting personnel, local government officials, and manufacturing organizations involved in the project.  The Code Specialist’s role is to research and recommend measures to the AM, and through the Liaison to other parties, for assuring code compliance, safety, and to assess and/or anticipate variance situations. The Code Specialist also develops the regulatory agencies' synopsis, reviews the installation plan for code implications, and provides timely, complete, specific, and accurate assessment of requirements of regulatory bodies. The General Staff The General Staff  includes Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities remain with the IC until they are assigned to another individual. When the Operations, Planning, Logistics or Finance/Administrative responsibilities are established as separate functions under the IC, they are managed by a section chief and can be supported by other functional units. The Planning Staff is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and disseminating the tactical information related to the roll-out of sign programs or branding elements, and for preparing and documenting Installation Action Plans (IAPs). The Logistics Staff is responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials for the installation response. The Finance and Administrative Staff is responsible for all financial, administrative, and cost analysis aspects of the roll-out.   Network Service Centers The Network Service Centers include Operations. The Local Partner is responsible for all operations directly applicable to the primary response. Manufacturing is responsible for producing products and /or materials directly applicable to the roll-out response. The following is a list of Management and General Staff responsibilities that either the AM or Information Specialist of any roll-out should perform or assign to appropriate members of the General Staff or Network Service Centers: Provide response direction; Coordinate effective communication; Coordinate resources; Establish installation priorities; Develop mutually agreed-upon installation objectives and approve rollout strategies; Assign objectives to the roll-out structure; Review and approve IAPs; Ensure integration of roll-out organizations into the NAP system; Establish protocols; Ensure worker and public health and safety; and Inform the media as appropriate. The modular organization of the Adentity NAP allows responders to scale their efforts and apply the parts of the NAP structure that best meet the demands of the installation or program roll-out. In other words, there are no hard and fast rules for when or how to expand the NAP organization. Many installations will never require the activation of Planning, Logistics, or Finance/Administration Sections, while others will require some or all of them to be established. A major advantage of the NAP organization is the ability to fill only those parts of the organization that are required. For some installations, and in some applications, only a few of the organization’s functional elements may be required. However, if there is a need to expand the organization, additional positions exist within the NAP framework to meet virtually any need. For example, in responses involving responders from a single jurisdiction, the NAP establishes an organization for comprehensive response management. However, when an installation involves more than one jurisdiction, responders can expand the NAP framework to address a multi-jurisdictional installation. The roles of the NAP participants will also vary depending on the installation and may even vary during the same installation. Staffing considerations are based on the needs of the installation. The number of personnel and the organization structure are dependent on the size and complexity of the installation. There is no absolute standard to follow. However, large-scale installations will usually require that each component, or section, is set up separately with different staff members managing each section. A basic operating guideline is that the Installation Manager is responsible for all activities until authority is transferred to another person. Another key aspect of an NAP that warrants mention is the development of an IAP. A planning cycle is typically established by the Account Manager and Sign Biz Network Service Centers, and an IAP is then developed by the Planning Section for the next operational period (usually 5 days in length) and submitted to the Account Manager for approval. Creation of a planning cycle and development of an IAP for a particular operational period help focus available resources on the highest priorities/installation objectives. The planning cycle, if properly practiced, brings together everyone's input and identifies critical shortfalls that need to be addressed to carry out the installation objectives for that period. Back to Top

If you have any further questions or would like additional information about Sign Biz Inc., please contact:
Paul Strauch
Vice President/ Marketing
24681 La Plaza, Suite 270
Dana Point, CA 92629
800-633-5580
pstrauch@signbiz.com