Al Schmidutz

Implementing a chargeback system, says Steelcase's Al Schmidutz, was one of wisest moves he has made. By Kristen E. Monte "IT IS something that continually needs to be tweaked to make it better, and we constantly have to measure and update it." "It," according to Al Schmidutz, is the chargeback system he implemented at Steelcase's in-plant a few years ago. This system, he says, is the foundation for the many significant changes he has made during his nearly five-year tenure with the company. His entry into the printing industry, though, started several years earlier. Born and raised in Flint, Mich., Schmidutz left home after

In-plants at manufacturing firms are often integrated very closely with their companies' core businesses. This can bring those in-plants some unique opportunities. By MIKE LLEWELLYN &012;Mercury Marine Printing and Publishing Services doesn't merely support its parent company, a leading manufacturer of outboard motors. "We're integrated with Mercury itself," says Mike Schrader, manager of the 25-employee in-plant, based in Fond du Lac, Wisc. "We print most everything that goes with the engine." That includes owners' guides, installation manuals and more, all of which gets ordered through the company-wide Material Requirements Plan. "Fifty percent of everything we produce goes directly in the box," he says. Few