SYSTEM INTEGRATION -- Process Ins and Outs

Mahaffey's Quality Printing in Jackson, MS, is not all that different from Crowson Stone in size (40 employees) or in its aggressive approach to adopting new technology. The companies are at the opposite ends of the spectrum, though, on the issue of using a single-source vendor.

"We are very resistant to being locked into a single manufacturer to supply all of our hardware or software," says Jeffery Wall, production manager. "We probably have to take on a little more responsibility to do our own integration, but it's not an unbearable load." Wall freely admits the attitude of management makes Mahaffey's a bit of an industry maverick. "The owner is a real risk taker," he says.