Kristen E. Monte

Implementing a chargeback system, says Steelcase's Al Schmidutz, was one of wisest moves he has made. By Kristen E. Monte "IT IS something that continually needs to be tweaked to make it better, and we constantly have to measure and update it." "It," according to Al Schmidutz, is the chargeback system he implemented at Steelcase's in-plant a few years ago. This system, he says, is the foundation for the many significant changes he has made during his nearly five-year tenure with the company. His entry into the printing industry, though, started several years earlier. Born and raised in Flint, Mich., Schmidutz left home after

The latest color copiers offer higher speeds and resolutions, along with other enticing options, to boost your in-plant's productivity. By Kristen E. Monte In-plants clearly love color copiers. According to In-Plant Graphics' 2004 Market Statistics report, more in-plants (71 percent) use copiers to output color than any other device. This appreciation of color copiers isn't lost on those who sell this equipment. "The in-plant market is very important to the color copier vendor, especially those vendors offering speeds of 30 ppm or greater," says Steve Rhorer, director of product marketing for Toshiba America Business Solutions. "Most of the recent color product introductions offer

You know it. But how do you convince upper management that investing in new equipment will save money down the line? By Kristen E. Monte You've heard the argument: Your equipment still works; why replace it? As most in-plant managers know, their shops are often at the bottom of the organization's budget allocation list. Getting upper management to shell out money for upgrades is a difficult task—but not impossible. After all, the pages of IPG are filled with equipment installation articles. The secret, according to managers who have succeeded, is determining the profitability of that new equipment. If you can prove to upper management

After several in-plant jobs, Tim Steenhoek now heads up document management for ING, a financial services giant. By Kristen E. Monte When Tim Steenhoek began working for his school district's print shop in high school, he never dreamed printing would be his ultimate career choice. Now, however, as head of the Document Management Center for ING, one of the world's largest financial services companies, he wouldn't have it any other way. His Des Moines, Iowa-based operation provides ING with on-demand, variable data printing, as well as mailing and fulfillment. Steenhoek didn't just stumble into ING's in-plant; this self-described "technology freak" had been working to

The latest envelope printing and inserting equipment has a focus on variable data printing. But is this right for your in-plant? By Kristen E. Monte The in-plant staff is now more frequently made responsible for overseeing the mail operation too," says Kerri Renshaw, marketing manager at Gunther International. In fact, IPG data shows that 50 percent of in-plants now have mailing responsibilities. As a result, envelope printing and inserting systems are becoming key components of many in-plants. But as those in-plants produce more variable data jobs, what effect is that having on the mail operation? "Organizations that invest time and money to personalize

After working in Alaska government print shops for 32 years, Harold Pence is about to retire. By Kristen E. Monte In 1972, Harold Pence began working on his first press, an A.B.Dick 360. More than 30 years later, and on the brink of his retirement, he still feels that printing is in his blood. Pence, Duplicating Services manager of the State of Alaska's Legislative Printshop, was born and raised in Illinois. After graduating high school in 1967, though, he was looking for a change, so he moved with his mother to Douglas, Alaska, a small island across the channel from Juneau. He has been

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