Whether you’re part of a government organization, a healthcare facility, an educational environment or a large business enterprise…change is often driven by the desire to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. Another common theme is looking to document and information workflow for opportunities to improve and save.
Enterprises struggle with all kinds of document challenges. We tend to be more familiar with the ones that concern our office workflow, but in some organizations, the in-plant print shop offers opportunities to increase operational and cost efficiencies.
The Strategic Value of In-plants
In-plant print shops provide services and resources for employees and for customers and constituents. Their value to business strategy can’t be underestimated. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services Bureau of Publications recognized the value of its in-plant by committing time and budget to an improvement initiative.
The effort resulted in
- Savings of more than $2.3 million
- 45 percent increase in annual print volume
- Implementation of automated workflow
- Transition from offset to digital printing
- Elimination of a 70,000 sq. ft. warehouse used for print inventory
It Began with Assessment
The yearlong transformation launched with an operational assessment and discussions. By evaluating existing processes, the team uncovered outdated equipment and processes, disconnected software systems, and an older print management system that couldn’t be upgraded anymore.
Some of the steps they took to drive change included:
- Consolidated operations and eliminated redundant processes
- Transitioned from offset to digital printing allowed more just-in-time printing
- Added end-to-end digital workflow from online ordering to automated billing
The transformation process is ongoing, according to Marcie Carr, Director of the Bureau of Publications. “Better serving our customers is an ongoing process, so we will continue to evaluate our situation and improve things as needed. We will stay current with new technologies and continue to reduce our physical footprint.”
Get the Full Story
Read the full, seven-page case study by InfoTrends, and find ideas that might help transform your large enterprise in-house printing operation.
