Stopping the Whispers

• Focusing the document strategy primarily on serving the best interests of the institution. Like many advantages and efficiencies of having an on-site, company-run in-plant, this value cannot necessarily be measured in dollars and cents.
• Responsiveness to customer needs. This is the bedrock upon which successful in-house printing operations are built. With an understanding of customer needs, these operations can provide effective service, quick turnaround and careful consideration of future customer requirements.
• "Rightsizing" enterprise printing. Cutting off access to an in-house printing operation has been known to increase the use of networked printers for production jobs. These printers are not well suited for high-volume printing, and they cost more to operate than centralized in-house printing devices.
• A deep understanding of the internal customers' needs. This depth of understanding can be very difficult to replicate with outside resources.
• Commitment to the organization. No outside print service provider will have the same vested interests of the enterprise as does an in-house printing organization. To an outside print service provider, your enterprise's printing needs become just one of many.
• Visibility of actual printing costs. Eliminating the expenditure line item for an in-house printing facility does not mean the printing needs of the enterprise magically go away. Rather, they often move to less-inspected (hidden) line items with no checks or balances to make sure the enterprise is receiving the best value for its printing dollars.

The white paper goes a step further, discussing these values by describing how three in-plants—in government, higher education and at a private company—have successfully gained the strategic acknowledgement of their organization.