A recent column in Mailing Systems Technology magazine examines the question of whether organizations should outsource their in-plants or not. Though the column is slanted toward the pro-outsourcing side, the arguments it makes should be analyzed by in-plant managers, since their bosses may be reading this too. Understanding the factors organizations are considering will help you prepare.
For example, the column notes that in-plants that can only produce black-and-white work are forcing internal customers to go to outside providers, decreasing in-plant volume and increasing costs. Though most in-plants these days have color machines, this still points to the perils of not having higher-end equipment.
The column points to increased regulatory pressures requiring full document integrity and the need to ensure that sensitive data is secure. In-plants that are on top of this issue must make sure their organizations understand the crucial benefit they are providing.
Read the article here with an eye toward understanding how your in-plant can improve in the areas cited and proactively alert management to the benefits you provide the organization.
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.