Inspiring Anthem

Steady improvement over six years turned the once meager in-plant at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine into an award winner.

WHEN ANDREW Haynes started working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine in 1994, the in-plant wasn't exactly state-of-the-art.

"The equipment was so old that you really couldn't do anything with it," the prepress and press production specialist recalls.

But help was on the way—in the form of a two-color, 26˝ Heidelberg MOZ press. Haynes arrived at the beginning of a six-year period of growth that turned the South Portland, Maine, in-plant into a high-production, award-winning facility. These changes not only benefitted the in-plant, but may prove to save it.

Indianapolis-based Anthem Corp., a national insurance provider, purchased Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine in June. Now known as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine, the company wants to consolidate its in-plants in Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

Haynes says that when the company observed his in-plant, it liked what it saw. Because of the upgrades, the in-plant has a very good chance of surviving.

Six Years Of Upgrades

"I have seen the operation grow from a few pieces of what I would call 'junk' equipment to what is now state-of-the-art," Haynes says.

Six years ago, print production team leader Mike Cote ushered in this great period of change with the acquisition of the Heidelberg press. A two-color 12x18˝ Heidelberg Quickmaster soon followed. Eventually, Cote oversaw across-the-board changes in prepress, press and bindery.

Ironically, Cote can't give a finite reason for the vast improvements. He's just happy with the results.

"It just happened," Cote muses. "The more our capabilities expanded, the more we wanted to test our abilities."

Super Staff

Although the new equipment has been wonderful, both Cote and Haynes believe the excellent staff is responsible for in-plant's success.

"One of our strong points is the training of the staff and the ability to shift and move them around in the most efficient way possible," Cote says.

"Most of us are cross-trained in several areas, enabling us to keep things going if someone is out or ill," Haynes adds. He believes this is part of the reason the relatively small in-plant produces nearly 3,000 jobs per year.

"We operate only one shift, yet we handle an amazing amount of work," he says.

In the old days, the in-plant had to outsource a good portion of work. Now, the new equipment allows it to produce 90 percent of its flat sheet work in-house.

"We do just about anything you can put on a single sheet of paper," Cote reports.

Award Winner

The in-plant prides itself on quality. It recently took home several awards in the Maine Graphic Arts Association's Printing Excellence Program. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine won several in-plant categories, and also the "multi-color on a two-color press" category for greeting cards and postcards—a category open to all printers.

Cote says he plans to use the awards to market his in-plant to the company. He's sure to let the people at Anthem know how valuable the in-plant is, not only for the quality of work it does, but for the savings it provides.

"We do price comparisons several times a year," Cote says. He reports that the in-plant costs 60 cents on average to every dollar spent on outside printing.

Cote is quick to point out that he is very pleased with the treatment the in-plant has received from Anthem since it purchased the company. He says the corporation has not changed or interfered with the in-plant's operations so far, and he doesn't anticipate that will change.

When Cote looks at his in-plant, he loves what he sees.

"We feel we are unique here," he proudly states, as he surveys the state-of-the-art facility. "We were bold enough to go farther than most in-plants. We really went for it."

Quick Look

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine spent roughly $600,000 on upgrades. The new equipment includes:

• An Agfa Advanta 2025 processor

• Apple Macintosh computers

• A two-color, 26˝ Heidelberg MOZ

• A two-color 12x18˝ Heidelberg QuickMaster press

• A Xerox DocuTech

• A Xerox 5390 copier

• A 20˝ Stahl right angle and buckle folder

• A 30˝ Polar cutter

• A C.P. Bourg 30-bin booklet maker

by JOE RANOIA