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With an in-plant, O'Donnell continues, the company has more say over exactly which jobs are most important. The company never has to play second fiddle to anyone else.

"The corporation can control our priorities," he points out.

Long Distance Relationships

With so much in common, the in-plants seem in a great position to communicate and share work. But the BCBS printing family doesn't get around to seeing much of each other, says Mike Bross, manager of Office Services for BCBS of Mississippi. "We never split up work," says the 35-year veteran, explaining that because each "Blue Plan" is run as a separate business, it would be difficult to delineate costs between the two companies. "But we call each other up on occassion to ask for advice."