In-Plant Printing Studies
- In-Plant Strategic Graphic Communications Assessment
- In-plant Printing Outsourcing Study
- Printing Facilities Management Study
Information Fulfillment Operation Assessment
- Corporate Information Fulfillment Request for Proposals (RFPs)
Global Network of Specialty Print and/or Fulfillment Vendors
Design and Implement a Cost Effective Corporate Print,
    Mail & Information Fulfillment Procurement Program
Print Production Operational Assessment
- Manufacturing Management Audit
Industrial Engineering Printing Plant Layouts
Print Expert Witness & Litigation Services
Investment Banker Advisory on the Printing Industry

In-Plant Printing Studies

Every in-plant printing operation is subject to the same technology dynamics, opportunities, and challenges as the general commercial printing industry. Because of the multi-dimensional nature of today's in-plant printing operation, the in-plant printing studies performed by Clint Bolte are more appropriately called "strategic graphic communications assessments." These strategic assessments are designed to assure that the corporate parent has the strategic graphic communications resources in place to meet the dynamic future graphic communication needs of each in house client. These resources include a cost effective in-plant operation with appropriate organization, skilled training, and economic level of sophisticated technology, print procurement contracts and policies in place to take advantage of specialty capabilities that are beyond the in house printing offering, and corporate policies, procedures, and systems in effect throughout the firm to provide the best value and long term benefit to all users in meeting their individual missions and the corporation vision as a whole.

Typical Assignments and Their Outcomes

First Example: Shop of ten employees was attempting to provide all printing services possible to the corporate parent. Equipment was well maintained but beginning to age. Two color duplicators and a landscape size press were being used to produce short run four color, all forms, and all two-color requirements. High speed copying had been upgraded in recent years to a single digital copier as the corporation had newly installed telecommunications capability. Recent capital requests for upgrades to a small four-unit landscape size sheetfed press and CTP had been denied, as these were four times as much as had ever been invested in this print shop. Interviews with major clients indicated a strong support for the in plant services despite elongated turn around schedules and marginal quality on some four-color jobs. Cost competitive studies indicated good value being provided except on four-color printing.

Accepted recommendations were to concentrate all capital investments on a digital future to include four color digital copying, on-line digital submission of work to both single color and multi-color digital production, wide format digital production of posters and banners currently being bought outside. Single and two color lithographic printing would continue with more aggressive learning curve to move appropriate forms from paper to electronic. Two employees volunteered to be reassigned and to learn the new digital product applications.

Second Example: Shop of fourteen employees was offering full service from digital design through two-color duplicator print production. The aggressive in-plant manager was outsourcing the more complex process color jobs designed in house to larger, more capable general commercial printers. This manager was active locally in the advertising design club and in-plant regional manager's association. The result was that this shop was successfully "insourcing" more than 15% of its total volume with expectations for more if a better press were available in house. They wanted to add a four-unit landscape size (20") sheetfed press to allow them to produce part of this work currently being outsourced. Client interviews indicated strong endorsement for this in-plant group and its desire to expand. Cost competitive studies reconfirmed the good value being provided.

Accepted recommendations were to install a two-unit half size press (26") with a negotiated full value trade in on a new four-unit press of the same size within three years when volume developed. Hiring another dedicated CSR would allow the general manager to spend half her time selling to bring in the necessary volume. Pro forma projections indicated that growth of half what had been actually realized would be sufficient to meet three-year sales and ROI targets.

In recent years corporate management directives have been to treat all administrative services as potential outsourcing venues, which of course would include in house electronic design and print production. These studies conducted by Bolte & Associates are normally in two different sections: the strategic graphic communications assessment as previously discussed and the outsourcing study. If the value calculated from the cost competitive study of the strategic assessment is marginal or if corporate management still chooses to pursue outsourcing as an overall initiative, then the outsourcing study would be done.

There are more than a dozen different tasks that are typically performed by Bolte in this outsourcing study. A proposal will be provided at no obligation to meet your particular needs.

A possible outcome of an in-plant printing outsourcing study is for a vendor to come in and operate existing equipment on sight. Normally these studies involve the same stages as the print outsourcing study.

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