University of N. Texas Consolidates In-plant
University of North Texas Printing/Eagle Images has completed a major move that consolidated its front office, prepress and production copy areas. For years, the 33-employee in-plant’s copy operation was in a separate building. This distance often inhibited communication between staff members.
“It was kind of like a team divided,” remarks Director Jimmy Friend. “Now you have everybody in the dugout with you.”
The in-plant’s front office moved to a different location within the University Services Building in June. The prepress department—including the in-plant’s two HP Indigo digital presses—relocated in early July. At the end of that month, the copy operation moved into the area vacated by prepress.
“Even though we moved into far less space than we had, it has turned out better than we had hoped,” explains Roy Nance, manager of Eagle Images Digital Print Centers. “Our new space is in one large room, whereas our old space was broken up. So we were able to lay the new space out for the best workflow.”
The copy operation can now more easily access the bindery equipment, he points out.
“We produce many perfect bound workbooks,” Nance notes. “Before, we had to box them up, take them across campus to the bindery for perfect binding, and then bring them back for shipping. Now, we just wheel them next door. This saves time, money and fuel.”
The move was prompted by two factors: UNT has been encouraging departments to work together to save money for the university; and the building housing the copy shop was being torn down to make room for a new college of business. Friend worked with the director of Purchasing, whose offices are also in the University Services Building, to reorganize their office areas and make room for the copy operation. It has worked out to everyone’s benefit.
- People:
- Jimmy Friend
- Roy Nance
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.
