The recent Association of College and University Printers conference may have taken place in sunny Phoenix, Ariz., but it was no vacation. The 82 managers who traveled there from all over the world came for answers and advice on how to keep their in-plants thriving in these trying times. The three days of intensive educational sessions did not disappoint them.
Arizona
Last month the Association of College and University Printers conference brought 82 higher-ed in-plant managers to Phoenix for four days of education, networking and fun.
As supervisor of the printing and publishing department of the largest school district in Arizona, Bill King believes in communication, responsiveness and an unwavering commitment to quality work. His style helped earn Mesa Public Schools' in-plant a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating last year.
As David Weber sees it, one of the most useful services he provides as print supervisor for Pima County, Arizona, is guiding customers back to reality when they come to his in-plant with plans for extravagant printed pieces. He helps them figure out how much color or metallic ink coverage they really need, scaling their projects back to something more affordable—even if that means less revenue for his chargeback-supported shop.
In September, the National Government Publishing Association met for the 34th time, bringing together government in-plant managers from as far away as Alaska, Vermont, Arizona and Mississippi. Though attendance was lower than usual, the conference was a nonstop festival of knowledge and information, with presentations on lean manufacturing, proving the value of your in-plant and how to re-engineer government mail.