In-plant Profiles

Federal Reserve Bank in-plants don't print money, but they work together to try to save it. COSMO CORVAGLIA has a kingdom—though he'd probably prefer to call it an area, or maybe just a district. Either way, he's the one responsible for it. This kingdom (or district if you prefer) stretches from Trenton, N.J., to Rehoboth, Del., and from Pittsburgh to Cape May Point, N.J. And although he isn't really a king, or even a prince for that matter, he is part of an organization few understand—and even fewer could live without. Cos Corvaglia is print manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

When he started his job, strict rules and inflexibility ruled his in-plant. Today it's one of the most customer-friendly departments on campus. Monday used to be a red-letter day at Grand Rapids Community College. In fact, it was the only day when red ink—or green, or blue—touched the in-plant's presses. "They only ran colored ink on Monday," says Doug Miller, recalling his first days at the in-plant, 18 years ago. "There were very strict guidelines as to what got done when and by whom." Miller's arrival changed all that. Since taking over as director of Printing and Graphic Services, he has upgraded equipment, increased

A new Heidelberg Digimaster 9110 and a dedicated staff have helped Case Western Reserve University refine course pack production. When Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio, outsourced its offset press work and bookstore operations, it considered outsourcing all printing services at the same time. That might have happened, too, had Lisa Gerlach, printing services manager, not been able to demonstrate that her department achieves lower per copy costs than outside providers—while simultaneously providing outstanding service. Gerlach's staff focuses on creating a professional image for the university, while maintaining low costs for students. When the staff processes copyright clearances for course packs,

As the largest insurance in-plant in the country, the Allstate Print Communications Center uses cutting-edge technology to provide unrivaled service. "You're in good hands." That's what Allstate Insurance tells its customers to reassure them that the company is looking out for their best interests. It's also what the Allstate Print Communications Center believes describes its relationship with its parent company. After all, in addition to both offset printing and digital black-and-white and color printing, the in-plant offers ink-jet addressing, mail processing, billing statement output, electronic prepress, bindery, distribution and more to support Allstate and its commerical business for external customers. Just about the only

Charlie Tonoff has worked at the same in-plant since he was in high school. In 30 years he has expanded the operation considerably. Charlie Tonoff wasn't even out of high school when he walked in off the street in May of 1971 and applied for a job as a press operator at Pennsylvania Blue Shield, in Harrisburg. Today, almost 30 years later, Tonoff still works in that print shop. There are differences, though. He's now manager, for one thing. And what was then a four-person operation is now a modern, 23-employee in-plant in a new 15,000-square-foot facility in Camp Hill, Pa. When he reflects

In-Plant Graphics recently conducted a survey of insurance company in-plants. We received 39 responses by our deadline and we have listed those in-plants below, along with the information they provided us about their operations. Be sure to check out the results of our survey. BUDGET KEY a=Under $249,999; b=$250,000 to $499,000; c=$500,000 to $999,999; d=$1 million to $2.99 million; e=$3 million to $4.99 million; f=More than $5 million In-plant Operating Budget

Though the insurance industry has some of the largest, most sophisticated in-plants in the country, getting them to respond to our surveys has never been easy. Our recent survey drew 39 responses by the deadline—coincidentally, the exact number that responded to our 1997 survey of insurance in-plants. Among the facts we uncovered: • 69.2% have the right of first refusal • 30.8% insource printing • 46.2% print variable data—with 27.8 percent of those adding color to their variable printing • 23.1 percent have satellite copy shops • 23.1 percent have their own Web sites Read on to learn more about in-plants in

Doug Larsen used to sow seeds on his father's farm. Now, he sows the seeds for in-plant success. WHEN Girls and Boys Town, in Omaha, Neb., needed to update its in-plant, the organization hired a guy with next to no printing experience. But Doug Larsen, the man who took the job, says it doesn't matter; his responsibilities have more to do with making customers happy than the technical minutiae of running a four-color press. Similarly, when asked about his role in reviving the stagnant Girls and Boys Town in-plant, Larsen prefers to deflect praise with self-deprecating humor. "All I do is talk and

Best Buy Minneapolis, Minn. When a business is able to grow from $160,000 in sales to over $7 million in less than a decade some people might attribute the success to a midnight deal with the devil—or at the very least a trade for some magic beans. But for Rick Fiebiger, director of Best Buy's 83-employee Print Solutions Group, all it took was focus and attention. "You really need to run your operation like you would if you were a commercial printer," declares Fiebiger. "You've got to earn the business, you have to provide top-notch service and you have to measure your contributions

Penn State University State College, Pa. Penn State Document Services faces a problem common to in-plants that lack the right of first refusal. If a department or professor needs a print job and they expect it to cost less than $5,000, they don't need to get bids on it. "They can just go to the print shop down the street because it's on the way home or their cousin's best friend works there, or whatever," laments Michael Pierick, director of Document Services. "We have to compete for every job, so we need to be concerned that every product and service line we provide