Always Innovating

Allstate Print Communications Center

Wheeling, Ill.

Operating Budget: $30 million

Full-time employees: 361

Part-time employees: 84

Jobs printed per year: 20,000

To keep a huge operation like the Allstate Print Communications Center productive and cost-effective, its management team must meet the challenges of changing technology and staggering workloads—while keeping costs low and bringing top-notch service to customers.

"We are very successful at answering our company's printing needs and providing the most cost-effective solutions," explains Bob Tierney, print communication director. "Our cost-effectiveness is clearly our greatest strength."

The Allstate Print Communications Center is not only a leader within its company, but also in the printing industry. It has been recognized by many industry organizations with awards and accolades. The shop's strength was highlighted in 1998 when it was named In-Plant Graphics' Industry Leader of the Year.

Allstate has earned the role of an industry leader by being an innovator. Its insourcing program has become an industry model. It has initiated mergers between its data center, mailing operation and print shop, and acquired some of the latest technology. Allstate was one of the first DocuTech users in the country, Tierney notes, and one of the first in-plants to purchase an Indigo E-print 1000 digital color press. The shop is now home to 13 DocuTechs, to keep up with a growing workflow.

"Clearly the biggest challenge was growth," says Tierney, recalling the changes his shop has faced. "We printed about 250 million sheets 10 years ago and this year we are going to exceed 900 million. With that growth comes the challenge to maintain our edge and to introduce new technology, and we have certainly done that."

And he plans to continue to keep that edge. Tierney notes that the Allstate Print Communications Center recently received approval to purchase a variety of new equipment. This new gear will include computer-to-plate technology, which will save Allstate money on film production costs, as well as cut down on time going to press. Other additions include new 40˝ sheetfed equipment and an expanded bindery department.

"The most important thing to do to get people to invest in an in-plant is to make sure there is a return on that investment," Tierney contends.

Allstate's print managers have been sticklers when it comes to justifying their shop. They have put rigid tracking systems in place to give upper management detailed reports on the savings the in-plant provides. And even though savings are documented, managers know they cannot afford to stop proving the in-plant's worth.

"It is imperative that you substantiate your savings," Tierney notes. "Measure, measure, measure. You have to have measurements.

"When it comes time to justify, the more data that you have, the more successful you are going to be in getting the corporation to invest in you," Tierney adds. "Make sure that you market your cost effectiveness throughout every level of the corporation."

—by Chris Bauer

Key Equipment

• Four Power Macintosh G3s

• Power Macintosh G3 file server

• Agfa Horizon scanner

• Three Linotype-Hell imagesetters

• Heidelberg Herkules Pro imagesetter

• Kodak film processor

• Enco plate processor

• NuArc vertical camera

• Two five-color Komori Lithrone 528s

• Two two-color Komori Lithrone 226s