Feeling the Heat from the New "In-plants"

Though outsourcing may once have been an in-plant’s biggest threat, the newest challenge is coming from inside, says Mike Renn, assistant vice president of Mellon Financial’s Corporate Operation.

“I’ve spent too many summers sweating blistering outsourcing arguments about printing not being part of our company’s core business. Of course, these arguments were volunteered by shady outside concerns. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and my in-plant survived.

“Now my in-plant is threatened from the inside by the new ‘in-plants.’ High-production digital copiers are springing up all over like weeds. These expensive machines are masters of their operators. They not only demand more copies, more service, supplies and invoicing, but also the undivided attention of their users.

“Is this the operator’s ‘core business?’ Shouldn’t this be left to the professionals? It’s funny being on the opposite end of the telescope.

“Will these new ‘in-plants’ tire of meeting deadlines? Will they wonder where all their time is spent? Will they realize why their expenses increase? Some do and enjoy the benefits of the in-plant.

“It remains to be seen if in-plants will wilt under the heat of the new in-plants and be relegated to the fate of the steno pool, or bask in the glow of their expertise.”