Governing for Results 13 - Washington State Digital Archives

Department of General Administration;
Department of Information Services;
Department of Printing
Three Agencies Working Together?
They Said It Couldn’t Be Done!
Currently, state agencies work with three different agencies to fulfill their print,
mail and distribution needs. Among the Department of Information Services,
Department of Printing, and Department of General Administration’s
Consolidated Mail Services, 225 state agencies and political subdivisions are
served for print and mail jobs.
In September 1999, Department of Information Services, Department of Printing,
and Department of General Administration's Consolidated Mail Services began a
project called Accelerated Print and Mail (APM). The purpose of the APM is to
provide state agencies with more coordinated and efficient print, mail and
distribution. We knew that in mapping current practices, efficiencies would
become apparent. We designed process improvement as part of the project
approach. By working together, the three agencies have reduced duplications,
delays, and process steps in their own operations and their customers. With
APM, printing and mail distribution services become faster, cheaper, and more
efficient.
In phase one of the project, the team conducted nine agency interviews with
large, medium and small agencies. The APM vision was shared with these
customers and feedback was solicited from them to help build it. Customers who
attended were asked what they thought of this effort. Comments included: “It’s
about time!” “The three partners fit perfectly,” and “You mean I can do the
document and mailing list and just send them to you? I don’t have to print
everything out on a desktop printer, box everything up and send it to you…Cool!
When does it start?”
By working together, 23 process improvements were made in phase two, four of
which have already been recognized in "Governing for Results." These
improvements built the foundation for continual development among the three
agencies and their customers. Employment Security Department and
Department of Labor and Industries were two customers involved in the process
improvements.
The APM team has just begun and anticipates additional improvements and
efficiencies. Highlights from accomplishments to date include:
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