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The material presented in this section of the xpedx web site is dedicated to you, the In-plant manager. We hope you will find the insights and materials most helpful in managing your organization. We are aware of the challenges you face regarding the threat of closure, in favor of a decision to outsource. This is also of concern to xpedx, as your industry has historically been a very important part of our total business. It might be comforting to know that the same concerns are at the forefront of individual business owners within the “print for profit” industry. The issue is one of survival and growth. Failure to grow in either industry typically results in progressive business erosion and ultimately, business failure. The materials we offer are primarily the contribution of two print-for-profit business owners. Coincidentally, they once consulted extensively within the In-plant industry. Since 1995, they have traveled throughout the country (and Canada) presenting the very information we are making available to you on this web site. At the same time, they continue the day-to-day “fight in the trenches” attempting to not only survive, but to profitably grow their business in an increasingly competitive marketplace. In summary, their business has been in continuous transition. The transition has been driven by basically two dynamics: (1) advances in digital imaging technologies and (2) the necessity to selectively deploy these technologies to satisfy customer needs. Prime Digital Printing is a five million dollar, totally digital operation utilizing a Heidelberg NexPress, Quick Master Direct Image (QMDI), computer-to-plate (CTP), two Xerox DocuTechs, an Epson wide format printer, a UV coater and mail and fulfillment capabilities. The company specializes in high-impact variable color marketing programs that involve extensive database management. Additionally, a sophisticated e-procurement system supports the entire operation providing a seamless workflow and real time proofing and reporting. Gary and Don will readily tell you that their business “isn’t getting any easier”. On the contrary, the bar for survival and growth continues to be raised almost weekly. In a sense, they must progressively “reinvent” their company in order to satisfy existing and emerging customer expectations. They try hard to make printing and its associated services more than a commodity item. Their overriding message to In-plant managers since 1995 can be simply paraphrased --- “today’s In-plant manager must operate every day as if the In-plant were their own business”. In a sense, it really is. It is within this context that we offer you this web site. Gary and Don’s contributions are supplemented with expertise supplied by Jerry Sampson and Ed Daniel. As Vice President of Sales at Prime Digital, Jerry has spent the past five years developing digital print based solutions for a myriad of customers in various industries. Most recently he has played the lead role in building the infrastructure necessary for Prime to offer its customers a number of web based services. This includes order entry, file transmission of b/w and color files, and on-line (soft) proofing. Ed Daniel is the principal consultant of Document Communication Technologies. Ed has over 25 years experience in the printing industry, including over 15 years as a consultant to In-plants, end users and providers of printing and communication services. His emphasis has largely focused upon electronic information flow, digital prepress, print-on-demand, and forms automation. The xpedx in-plant team: |
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Gary
H. Smith is the President of Prime Printing, Inc. -
providing retail and commercial printing, digital imaging and
e-procurement solutions to a diversified customer base..
One of the foremost authorities on in-plant efficiency analysis,
Gary's comprehensive knowledge in the areas of outsource
purchasing; buy or make decisions; forms purchasing; digital
imaging, prepress, electronic and demand printing has resulted
in significant savings for his clients throughout the world.
He has more than 15 years experience consulting to major
corporations, universities and hospitals, presenting
opportunities for both cost reduction and the integration of new
technologies.. Gary is a graduate of Syracuse University's
School of Management. |
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Don B. Kendall is the President of Prime Digital Imaging - a
joint partnership with Prime Printing offering a state of the
art high speed digital printing and related technologies.
Don previously held senior management positions in IS.
(Information Systems) finance and business planning for major
corporations in the computer, automotive and leisure industries.
He is a former vice president of information systems for a
Fortune 500 business forms manufacturer. Don is a graduate
of Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry and Economics. He also holds a Master of
Business Administration in Finance from the University of
Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance. |
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Jerry
A. Sampson is Vice President e-procurement and technical
development for Prime Digital Imaging and is responsible for
developing, selling and implementing innovative value added
solutions. Jerry has worked with schools, banks and
software developers in designing and implementing training
courses and operating system conversion projects. Most recently,
he designed and implemented a network system for Prime Digital
Imaging. This involved integrating multiple operating
systems (Windows, Windows/NT and Macintosh) with Prime's
internet site and web pages to permit the movement of files from
customers to multiple output devices (Xerox DocuTech, Cannon
CLC1000 and Heidelberg Direct Imaging press). Jerry is a
graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
political science and English. |
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Edward
T. Daniel is the principal consultant of Document
Communication Technologies, a consultancy that provides various
solutions to in-plants, end users and service providers alike.
Ed has consulted on projects for Fortune 1000 companies with an
emphasis on electronic information flow, print-on-demand,
electronic/digitized pre-press, forms automation, and other
analog/digital print/image cost containment and revenue driving
processes. Ed’s articles have
appeared in In-Plant Graphics and In-Plant Printer magazines and has also
chaired sessions and presented at high profile industry related
trade shows and expositions including: The Print on Demand
Digital Printing & Publishing Conferences; XPLOR; and the IPMA
conferences. Ed is a graduate of the University of
Cincinnati. |
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We wish you all the best as you reposition and reinvent your business in the coming months and years ahead. Please use this resource material and the live xpedx workshops to capitalize upon the many new opportunities that continue to emerge for the innovative and aggressive In-plant.
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