Out and About

IT'S CONFERENCE season again, which means that in between writing and editing articles for this issue, I've been dashing off to in-plant events around the country. In the past two weeks I've been to two in-plant meetings (plus the On Demand Show) and talked with dozens of managers about what's happening in their shops.

The first event was a Xerox-sponsored Higher Education Thought Leadership Workshop in Rochester, which brought together 44 in-plant managers from 24 universities (story on page 4). Then just 10 days later I was in Charlotte, N.C., for the rejuvenated Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) conference, where 45 managers gathered for three days of sessions and candid conversations.

I must say, it was quite satisfying to see ACUP unfold so successfully after its cancellation last year due to low registration numbers. Its smaller size (ACUP usually draws 100+) made it much easier to meet people. In fact, I talked with every single attendee, and many were newcomers to the ACUP scene.

For instance, Chuck Brantley, of Rhodes State College, told me how he recently brought digital color printing to his six-employee print and mail operation. As a result, a lot of previously outsourced work has started coming to the in-plant, and even black-and-white volume has increased.

Then Tim Trent, director of Longwood University Printing Services, mentioned that he just got approval to add a Xerox 6604 wide-format scanner/printer, as well as a 54˝ Xerox 8245E wide-format printer. This will join the new Xerox 700 digital color press his in-plant added last June. Other in-plants told me similar stories about new services they are adding.

It was much the same at the Xerox workshop in Rochester. I enjoyed catching up with Villanova University's Michael George, who told me in the shuttle ride from the airport about his plan to bring copyright management under the in-plant's umbrella. He is sure he can save Villanova money over what the school now pays an outside company to secure copyright permission.

Joe Morin, of Colorado Springs School District 11, explained how budget cuts to his customers have reduced the funds they have available for printing (an all-too-common story these days, unfortunately). Insourcing from other school districts is helping the in-plant somewhat, he said.

I heard a great success story from Tony Seaman, of the University of Mississippi, who told me that design services had just been moved into the in-plant's domain. This gives Tony supervision of every step in the process, from job creation through mail. He now oversees 24 employees (up from 14).

Steve Murray, of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, mentioned that his shop just added a Xerox iGen4 and a black-and-white Canon printer, and is doing a ton of variable data printing. With a six-color Heidelberg press as well, the in-plant is keeping itself very busy, he said.

It's been great to see so many in-plant managers and hear their stories. I look forward to seeing even more of them next month at the IPMA conference.