Defend Yourself Against Outsourcing

In the most recent issue of InsidEdge, the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association's member newsletter, the in-plant manager at a global corporation explains how his department survived a wave of outsourcing by showing the value it adds to the company's core business. The manager offers several suggestions to help other in-plants stay strong in the face of similar threats:

• Build a solid team. Plot the shop's course clearly and communicate that direction well so that everyone on your team buys into your vision.
• Build trust. Your direct reports need to respect you and know that you are there to support them to get their job done.
• Build a loyal client base through outstanding customer service and a constant focus on your clients' needs.
• Do outside cost comparisons.
• Make sure that there is a viable market for each service.
• Market yourself across your organization.
• Build your volume to prove positive impact to the bottom line.
• Sell your value, convenience, savings and quality.
• Build relationships with your clients and pass those relationships on to your team.
• Conduct surveys. Don't be afraid of negative feedback. Learn from it and grow.

The manager elaborates on these points in much better detail in the article, which IPMA has made available for you here. The InsidEdge newsletter is just one of the many benefits provided by IPMA, a professional association dedicated exclusively to the specific needs of in-house graphic arts professionals.