In-plant Graphics – February 2011
2011 Salary Survey
Though the economy may be showing signs of improvement, the salaries of in-plant managers are still suffering. According to IPG's biennial salary survey, managers' salaries have gone down 3.17 percent in the past two years. What's more, a significant number (40 percent) received no pay raise in 2010. When we asked that question two years ago, only 17 percent said they got no raise.
AARP: Not Your Grandfather’s In-plant
Anyone who has approached or passed the half-century mark in life is familiar with the stream of mailings from AARP—the American Association of Retired People. Increasingly populated these days by Baby Boomers who adamantly refuse to acknowledge age as a limitation, the organization behind the mailings is a well-oiled machine that relies heavily on print and mail to acquire and service nearly 40 million loyal members. The lion's share of the print and mail that supports AARP's internal needs comes out of the Print Services operation at AARP's Washington, D.C., headquarters.
Bindery Overhaul Brings Work Back In-house at Cornell
Kevin Drake recalls the days at Cornell University when in-plant employees were using an older Harris bookletmaker to create booklets for campus clients. The process was labor-intensive and the machine needed to be tended the whole time it was running, Drake says.
Digital Print Center Gets Finishing Touch
Faith-based book publisher RBC Ministries was spending too much time and money outsourcing soft-cover books. So in October, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company christened a brand new digital print center, equipped with a pair of HP Indigo presses, to bring production of soft-cover books in-house.
Ex Band Manager Keeps In-plant in Tune
Back in the early '80s, when he was touring with rock legend Elvis Costello, John Barron didn't give much thought to the world of printing. He was the road manager for a band named Sussman Lawrence—well known in the Twin Cities at the time—trying to help his high school buddies make it big.
From the Editor: Stress Your Value
IT'S BEEN kind of a snowy winter out here in Philadelphia. For those of us who like the snow (me), it's been nice. For those who don't (everyone else) it's been tough. But we've had our share of warm winters in the past, so I say it's about time (no matter how many icy glares I get).
Inserter Lets Penn State In-plant Capture More Work
Until a year and a half ago, match mailings were either done by hand at Penn State University's Multimedia & Print Center (MPC) or they were outsourced. The 60-employee in-plant had two older inserters from the '70s and '80s with limited capabilities.
Naysayers and Yea-sayers
At last fall's TACUP (Texas Association of College and University Printers) conference, I used the term "naysayers" to express my frustration in trying to battle the politics of a tough consulting assignment. After that, I wondered what the opposite would be, and discovered the expression "yea-sayers."
New Folder Doubles In-plant’s Productivity
To get the word out about its new MBO buckle folder with a rollaway knife unit, the Document Solutions department at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin created a video showcasing the new folder's capabilities. The video, which the in-plant put on YouTube and on its Web site, focused on the shop's "Three E's"—experience, expertise and equipment.
On Demand Show Preview
Always on the move, the On Demand Conference & Exposition will take place in Washington, D.C., next month for the first time. We asked some of the participants what they plan to have on display.
Paper Inventory Management: A Lean Approach
AN IN-PLANT is a perfect candidate for applying Lean production practices. We are essentially a manufacturing environment that uses multiple steps in various processes. We utilize a variety of equipment, technology, human resources and supplies. There is an ever-present risk of waste and errors, and quality and speed are at the forefront of our concerns.
Workhorse Machine Helps Texas In-plant Avoid Outsourcing
When Derek Seim transitioned into his role of Printing Service manager at Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) more than a year ago, he had to figure out what the in-plant needed to stay up and running. The Bryan, Texas-based shop installed a Xerox Nuvera 144 to produce more black-and-white work, as well as book covers, in-house. He knew it was then time to focus on overhauling the shop's bindery.
