RR Donnelley -- Giant Transformation
Premedia hopes to capture the same magic in Glasgow, KY, with a digital solutions center comprised of six offset plants that will fill the needs of long-run consumer titles.
Although technology changes constantly, Schneider stresses cutting through the flash and finding meaningful substance. "There's a lot of great, sexy technology out there that won't make a bit of difference as to how you do things. What's important is getting the truth about technology and making sure you implement it in a way that actually improves the process. It's knowing what is worthwhile and what isn't."
The 2002 campaign saw much of Premedia's clientele become more focused on their core businesses. It saw a record number of companies looking to outsource functions such as creative and page production, helping propel the group to $121 million in sales. That helped to counter high levels of price erosion in a year that saw many smaller premedia businesses fold.
"If you stand still in this business, you're dead," Schneider say. "A lot of folks who couldn't afford to make that step last year, in light of difficult times, didn't continue forward."
Premedia enjoys the benefits of being both affiliated with Donnelley and as a standalone services house. Clearly, its goals for 2003 center around partnering with customers. Understanding their needs, as well as the technologies and processes that best speak to those needs, will be most critical moving forward.
"Printing is just a piece of the supply chain; you have to take a much more expansive and broader view of it in order to be successful," Schneider says. "And that's just what we have done."
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As for the future, Davis believes the company's transformation process—and the commitment by Donnelley's employees—has it geared toward success.
"We have a great deal of momentum right now," Davis says. "I'm confident that the work we're doing on our transformation in this difficult economic environment will pay off for a long time to come. Furthermore, I believe that some day we will look back upon this period in our company's history and recognize that the effort to transform RR Donnelley was pivotal. We could not have done it without our employees. They deserve thanks for the sacrifices and commitments they've made, and for living our values during a time when we've had to take difficult actions. Their dedication and hard work have made RR Donnelley a stronger, more flexible company. And, in the long run, our employees, customers and shareholders will benefit."
