Ace Hardware-Insourcing Aces

Furthermore, Salinas says that skills learned on commercial jobs often have in-house applications and can help solve problems, as well as save money and heighten employee morale.

"The ability to build skills in people that they wouldn't get just doing the company's work is excellent," says Salinas.

However, the in-plant's success is the product of more than just its ability to juggle clients' needs and manage deadlines. The company also places a premium on effective communication and customer service. To facilitate that communication, the in-plant has added four graphic service coordinators for its corporate office to act as liaisons between the client and the in-plant.