An End To Outsourcing
In 1994 the University of Nevada, Las Vegas started outsourcing its large offset work. Now, with the upcoming addition of a new press, it's bringing that work back to save money.
Sometimes, on paper, it may seem like outsourcing is a good idea for certain jobs. Unfortunately, it can take years for these jobs to be brought back in-house, once lost to the outside. One in-plant is ready to turn back the clock and regain control and cost savings.
"In 1994, after careful study, we got out of the large offset, high-end printing market because it just wasn't cost-effective for us," recalls Paul Kurzynowski, reprographics manager for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "We sold our Heidelberg SORMZ two-color and began subcontracting that work out on a formal bid basis.
"But as the years have gone by, that number of subcontracted jobs has grown to an average of 200-plus jobs and $300,000 going off campus annually. That got to be too much."
So Kurzynowski is preparing to add to the shop's offset area—and to return to producing the now-outsourced color booklets, brochures and posters in-house. He is taking bids for two-color, 17-1⁄2x22-1⁄2˝ and 20x26˝ perfecting presses—and just itching to bring home the savings.
"We project anywhere from 15 percent to 40 percent cost savings per job, depending on the job specs," Kurzynowski predicts. Estimated time for return on investment on the new press is two to three years.
The in-plant staff, which consists of 19 full-time employees and several student workers, is ready to take on the increased workload. This was an internal decision to end the outsourcing.
"We really don't consider this an expansion but a re-establishment of an old service," Kurzynowski notes. The 7,200 square-foot shop may have to do some modifications to the paper supply area to accommodate the new press, but there are no plans for any major physical plant expansion.
The in-plant was given the go-ahead by the university not only to bring previously subcontracted work back in, but also to increase the shop's capabilities.
"UNLV is growing quickly in many areas and the demands for our services are growing with it," explains Kurzynowski. "We will need to upgrade our plate processor in the near future to accommodate the new press."
