Update: Y2K at Courier
by Donald Hunter, Director, Year 2000 Project

As January 1, 2000 approaches, Courier continues our corporate-wide project to assure that all of our operations will run smoothly at the turn of the century. Year 2000 (Y2K) compliance efforts to date have focused on internal information systems, manufacturing and office equipment, facility systems, telecommunications and external business partners.

To ensure that the Company's operations are not negatively impacted by Y2K, Courier established a Year 2000 Task Force to oversee the Y2K project. The Task Force, which is comprised of senior managers, has been meeting on a regular basis to set direction, keep the project on schedule, and provide the needed resources.

Project accomplishments to date include completing information and equipment inventories, testing all company PCs, upgrading computer systems to improve functionality, and contacting key raw materials suppliers. The next steps for the project will involve installing compliant system software, testing information systems and completing equipment and facility systems compliance assessments.

Courier is committed to resolving our Year 2000 issues while working with our customers, vendors and service providers to provide an uninterrupted supply of products and services into the next millennium.

Brian Favro began teaching computer science in a California vocational school in the early 90's. When he found much of the available educational materials lacking, he began to develop his own. This eventually led to the creation of Labyrinth Publications, one of today's rising stars in the educational publishing sector. Labyrinth now turns out 15-20 titles a year and is growing fast.

"When I first went to Courier, we were doing runs between 1,000 and 3,000. Now we average between 3,000 and 10,000 for each run we do," explains Favro. The relationship with Courier extends beyond book manufacturing, however.

Favro quickly realized that if his business continued to grow at a rate of over 200 percent annually and he factored in a national expansion effort, it would become impractical for him to manage and warehouse his inventory and handle order fulfillment. He solicited Courier's experience and expertise in these areas, developing a richer partnership which will enable Labyrinth to keep developing their products without being saddled with processing.

In this new arrangement with Courier, Labyrinth will receive incoming orders over the phone or through its Web site, then forward them electronically to Courier, where order fulfillment, inventory tracking and even processing of returns will occur. And Favro is now considering Courier's call center services, which would free the publisher completely from the order fulfillment burden.

Creating effective teaching materials is Labyrinth Publications' mission. Courier is committed to help president Brian Favro bring these materials to market and effectively nurture his company's growth.

Right From the Start, Third Edition, published by Courier Corporation, is now available. To obtain a copy of Right From the Start, or to add or change an address, contact your sales representative or Priscille Georgeou at georgeou@courier.com or (978)251-6277.

Tom Patti has been promoted to Director of Operations at Book-mart Press. A graduate of RIT, Tom has extensive printing and manufacturing background and will be involved in systems development at Book-mart.

Courier Kendallville welcomes Terry Lewis, formerly of Jefferson Smurfit, as Controller; Terry Eberly, formerly of Field Container Company, as Quality Facilitator; and Jeanne Morris, Customer Service Representative.

Frank Kullman was recently appointed Operations Manager at National Publishing.