IPMA Conference An 'Xtreme Success'

Like Schlueter, Renn stressed that benchmarking and reporting to management must be done regularly, before outside printers raise questions with your management. Having the data on hand lets you respond quickly to management, letting you lead instead of just react.

Former in-plant manager Niki Steenhoek, now with PathForward, stressed that in-plants need to know their total cost of ownership (TCO), including the costs of document creation, equipment, maintenance, supplies, labor, down-time and square footage. Benchmark all of these, she said. Once you know your TCO you can work on reducing it.