August 2014
A New Dimension at Missouri State University
Ever since Missouri State University Printing Services added a Kodak NexPress 2500, the Springfield, Mo., in-plant has been able to take on more work than it did in 2009—back when the shop still had five full-time employees.
Best Practices: Casting a Wider Net
As manager of the Graphics Division of Palm Beach County government’s Public Affairs Department, Johnson says part of his job is finding ways to communicate effectively with his community. So when the Office of Community Revitalization asked his Greenacres, Fla., in-plant to print 400 flyers to be distributed by deputies throughout a specific neighborhood, calling on residents to attend a community meeting, Johnson knew there had to be a better way.
Best Practices: Saving Money, Adding Experience
When Rick Wise’s in-plant was downsized a few years ago, he quickly learned that just because his staff size shrank, didn’t mean his workload would too. Wise, director of Printing Services at the University of Missouri-Columbia, went through a combination of layoffs and voluntary resignations that reduced his staff of 64 full-timers to 50. Keeping up with the demands placed on an in-plant at a major university would require him to get creative.
Celebrating Print at Graph Expo
As Ralph Nappi sees it, Graph Expo is more than just a place to kick the tires on some of the latest printing and binding equipment.
Colorado IDS Honored as Mail Center of the Year
The State of Colorado’s Integrated Document Solutions (IDS) has been selected as IPMA’s 2014 Mail Center of the Year. This award recognizes a corporate mail center for outstanding improvements in the areas of new technology, cost savings and processes. Representatives from the in-plant received their award during IPMA’s annual awards banquet in June.
CUPMAC Conference Convenes in Halifax
College and university in-plant managers from all across Canada met in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in June for the 47th annual College and University Print Management Association of Canada (CUPMAC) conference. About 30 delegates attended the three-day event, which was hosted by Dalhousie University.
From the Editor: Getting What You Want
A couple of months ago I got an email, as I often do, from an in-plant manager looking for help. A long-time press operator, he now managed a small in-plant, he said, with basic offset, digital and bindery equipment. These days, he told me, most of the shop's work was being run on the copier, with the press increasingly sitting idle.
Graph Expo Product Preview
These products for the in-plant market will be on display at Graph Expo.
Hot Products
New hot products for In-plants
In-plant Events at Graph Expo
Next month in Chicago, printers from all over the world will make their annual pilgrimage to Graph Expo. For those in-plants attending the trade show, IPG has coordinated several opportunities to get together, enjoy a free meal and hear what some of their fellow managers are doing to get ahead.
International Man Of Print
In his role as facility leader at the in-plant for Development Dimensions International, Inc. (DDI), Steve Horton is in a unique position. His in-plant not only prints materials for DDI, but also prints and ships products sold to DDI's customers worldwide.
Konica Minolta Reveals Growth Strategy, New Color Press
As Rick Taylor sees it, Konica Minolta Business Solutions’ competitors aren’t simply other manufacturers, like Ricoh and Canon. They’re companies like Starbucks, Apple and Nordstrom that offer unbelievable customer service. Providing this level of stellar service, said the president and chief operating officer, is Konica Minolta’s most important focus going forward.
Making the Big Plays
As director of Printing, Mailing and Document Services for the University of Oklahoma—renowned for its storied Sooners football team, this year's Big 12 preseason favorite—John Sarantakos is used to thinking big and going long.
Some Questions are Threats in Disguise
Have you ever noticed that certain questions, just by the way they are asked, are really hidden threats? If you work in an in-plant, you may occasionally hear some of these questions. As someone offering consulting services, I often see them in RFPs or request for proposals for evaluations. If you ever hear these questions you should prepare to battle the possible allegations that will follow.
Writing Successful Proposals: It's All About the Numbers
As managers we have all been faced with situations where we needed to invoke change. Maybe we’ve had too few or too many employees. Maybe we needed to add a new piece of equipment or get rid of an old one. Maybe we needed a new facility. The common element in all of these change initiatives is that, most likely, we’ve had to convince someone at a higher level that action was needed.
