PREPRESS COMPOSITION <SANITIZED>: SO CLOSE, AND REALLY NOT SO FAR AWAY!

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826182
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-02534
• Publication Date: June 1, 1988

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Newsletter
PRODUCT OF A QUALITY CIRCLE SUGGESTION
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE
PRINTING & PHOTOGRAPHY DIVISION
Office of Logistics
Vol. 6 No. 2 June 1988
Who are these people?
Prepress Composition
So Close, and Really Not So Far Away!
By
It all started back in May 1987.
One by one, compositors started
to disappear from P&PG. Was it a
hungry typesetter?? NO! Only part
of a master plan to provide compo-
sition and system management sup-
port to the Foreign Broadcast Infor-
mation Service in their new home
at the Reston Corporate Center.
And now, almost one year later,
the Prepress Composition Section
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(PPCS) has grown to people, a
roup that includes F�Supervisor,
system managers, and
compositors. The system managers
maintain an Atex network compris-
ing six CPUs, 12 disk drives, and
more than one hundred editorial
terminals. Their responsibilities
span three shifts and seven days a
week. Maximizing system perfor-
mance is their major concern, and
�SEC RE-T-
each shift is filled with perfecting
procedures and keeping up with
maintenance requirements. Ensur-
ing that messages successfully trans-
mit through proper channels once
they reach the Atex system is also
an important concern. These mes-
sages are unclassified and originate
from field bureaus, various wire
services, and independent contrac-
tors who translate foreign material.
Managing the Atex system is only
half of PPCS's responsibility. The
Xyvision side of the house also de-
mands lots of love and attention.
All compositors in have
combined efforts to maintain the
nodes and share system-related ac-
tivities such as backup procedures,
hardware installation, and software
upgrades, in addition to producing
an average of 650 pages per day.
With outstretched arms, you ask? In
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
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(b)(3)
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a sense, that's what happens. The
sixth node in P&PG actually does
reach out to touch the five nodes in
via a fiber-optic link, to re-
trieve completed books. Thanks to
our P&PG connection and the Pre-
press staff on the P&PG end of the
link (thanks again for all your sup-
port), the new procedures have
worked great!
You may wonder, "Are we perma-
nently assigned to this project?" The
answer would have to be . . . no. We'll
all slowly but surely make our way
back home and others will fill the FBIS
positions. So for now, until we do
return to P&PG, is where you'll
find us, doing anything but restin'!
P.S. If you are interested in visit-
ing the facility, tours are
available. For further information,
please contact Dep-
uty Chief of Prepress, who will coor-
dinate tours with PPCS.
(b)(3)
Management Development Program
So, who is this guy who's in his
third job already in the Division
in less than two years. What's the
problem? Can't he hold down a job?
Our Division Chief, got
me in the massive co-op trade of 1986
with that well-known school�CMSU.
At that time, was out in War-
rensburg, Missouri, recruiting stu-
dents in the Graphic Arts Program for
the newly established co-op program.
I was already into my senior year, well
past the prospective co-op point. My
next hope was to interview for possi-
ble full-time employment, but there
didn't seem much hope as the
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act began
to take hold in the government.
The end of my schooling was quick-
ly approaching, and I was at the point
where I had to decide if I would have
to move home to Cuba, Missouri
(population 2,245; one stoplight). The
future didn't look good. The week
before graduation in May 1986, I was
offered a job by a printer in Kansas
City that printed boxes for frozen
foods and also was contacted by
By
the Agency. I had passed all the re-
quirements and could come on
board.
Ten days after graduation, I packed
up everything I owned, moved to the
Washington area, and began work.
Since I was hired as an apprentice,
I spent the next six months on a
rotation through the plant, working
about a month in each production
area. About a week before I was to be
assigned into my apprenticeship,
Division Chief at that
time, asked if I was interested in
leaving the apprenticeship for a posi-
tion on the Plans, Programs and Sys-
tems Staff. Despite the uncertainties
of the position, I decided it would be
an interesting and challenging job.
After just over a year on the Staff, I
was notified I would be entering the
Management Development Program
for Printing Managers.
According to the Office of Logis-
tics Training Catalog, the Printing
and Photography Group (OL/P&PG)
Management Development Program
is designed to develop management
skills of eligible P&PG employees for
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
for Printing Managers (b)(3)
(b)(6)
the purpose of creating a cadre of
future managers in P&PG and OL.
The program is 16 months in dura-
tion and includes rotational on-the-job-
training tours in each of the production
branches (Prepress, Press, Bindery), the
Office of the Production Manager, and
Plans, Programs and Systems Staff.
In English, this means I again get
to rotate through the plant, this time
focusing more on the work of the
supervisors and branch chiefs.
In addition to the on-the-job work,
I'll be attending a number of internal
Agency management-skills courses,
as well as a four-month rotation in
another OL component.
So, what does all this mean? Well,
you'll see me "observing" a lot and
asking many questions. Don't fear, I'm
not there to check up on anyone or
report back my findings. I'll be there to
see how we do the job in P&PG, ask
you about your work and problems
that keep coming up, and basically get
a better understanding of the work and
problems of each section.
I'll be seeing you around.
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PRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
By
GROUP CHIEF
MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM
HEADQUARTERS DIVISION
CHIEF
DEPUTY CHIRP
VACANT
SUPPORT DIVISION
ORE
DEPUTY CHIEF
VACANT
This chart was prepared to help you understand how the new Printing and Photography Group is organized and how it
will function. Included below are encapsulated descriptions of those managerial positions for which responsibilities have
changed under the new organization. If additional information is desired, please contact
Group Chief. Approxim
rcint of his time IS occ
e Office
Management
Photography Group,
eludes the Headquarti
Support Divisions, occu
remaining 40 percent
There ill not be *dell
Chief/Deputy, Headquarters Di-
vision. Their responsibilities in-
volve management of the Head-
quarters Division. They work in
cooperation with the Chief, Sup-
port Division, in support of the
Group's goals and objectives.
Production Manager, Headquar-
ters Division. He is responsible
for overseeing the production el-
ements of the Group.
Chief,
He directs the Planning Services
Stall. His objectives include en-
hancing customer relations and
developing enhancements for the
Their porinsibeSoiterimptipteirtte4Deolvimspiass
the
h the
work in eeePera-
Grou0: They 3 �I. the
tion
sa-uppi,:i8;'40naisinanSuP; Pobnortea. elogfulthre-
the
.ancothcaeut,,rrartstnipitnsibiiitie:cein,,,o,�,,:etippv0.04.
budget, Co-op Program
ea arid maintenance
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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(b)(3)
The Printing and Photography
Group is setting up a Customer
Support Center this summer. It will
be located in the area of Head-
quarters Building. Before this office
can become functional, the area must
be modified, including moving a
back wall in the B&RC area. B&RC
office space and mailing areas will be
relocated toward the B&RC area in
the rear. Extensive renovation plans
will create two offices and two work
stations in the front of the present
B&RC area. These new offices and
work stations will house the Assistant
Production Manager, a Publications
Design Specialist, and one/two Print-
ing Production Planners.
The purpose of this office is to serve
our customers better by providing a
focal point where they can consult a
supervisor of Composing, a supervisor
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(b)(6)
Customer Support Center
By
of Design and Presentation, and a
job planner to assist them with any
and all of their job requirements.
When a customer's job is planned at
this location, there will be a concert-
ed effort to coordinate all elements of
the job, right through the planning
stage, before it is sent to the Main
Plant for printing. The Customer
Service Staff will write up the custo-
mer's job for printing, schedule the
job in the MIS system, and then send
it by gray box to the Main Plant. If
the job has enough lead time, it can
be dropped off at the new Center for
sending via gray box to the Main
Planning Office, where it will be put
on the planning holding shelves for
later planning by the Main Plant
planners. This will save many of our
customers the long walk to the P&P
Building.
Another advantage is that this office
will serve as a focal point for customer
queries as to where their job is in the
printing cycle or advice on how they
can best prepare their job�be it com-
posing, design work, or printing.
This office will also have the re-
sponsibility of overseeing the work
flow of B&RC, ETECS, and
printing jobs. This will assure that
the customer's job is produced in the
most satisfactory and expeditious
manner possible. (b)(3)
We in the Printing and Photogra-
phy Group believe that this will en-
hance the service that we provide to
our customers in the Agency as well
as promote better relations between
the printer, the photographer, and
the customer.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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(b)(
(b)(
(b)(
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(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
Con � ratulations
in
Employee of the Quarter
(b)(3) (b)(3) By (b)(3)
(b)(6) (b)(6) (b)(6)
is not the type of per- Originally from rarkersburg, West
/son who will sit idly by just be- Virginia, now resides
cause his particular job may be fin-
ished. Instead takes the initiative
to see what other things need to be
done. This is the very reason that he
was selected Employee of the Quarter.
Not only did he fulfill his tasks in the
Bindery, he also helped out in Supply.
He familiarized himself with stock
numbers and procedures and often
took supply runs
came to the Agency in 1984
where he began working
A friend told him about the printing
shop and he then expressed a desire
to come to P&PD. He joined us in
December 1985.
in
the
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
When he's not working, 1(b)(6)
enjoys fishing and tinkerin with old
cars. Congratulations
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
THE PREPRESS OF THE FUTURE
Now Showing at P&PG
By
They talked about "it" 20 years
ago. Some said "it" wouldn't be
here in our lifetime; others were silent.
Boom!!!! [explosion] It's here folks!
In late 1986 the Printing and Pho-
tography Division began researching
an interim direct-to-plate system to
replace conventional methods of the
Prepress and Plate sections. The
goal: to keep pace with the daily
increasing demands of production
and prepare for the future. After ex-
tensive research was completed, rep-
resentatives from our division visited
local printing facilities that were us-
ing the Rachwal projection system, a
system designed to support and en-
hance prepress automation.
The management of the Prepress
Branch was soon to be convinced
that this system had a definite place
in our everchanging production envi-
ronment. Then came the task of sell-
ing this technology to our colleagues
in the division. After several
(b)(6)
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(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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(b)(6)
song-and-tap-dance routines were
performed, a group of four represen-
tatives made preparations in January
1987 to visit Rachwal Systems, Inc.,
of Ashland, Massachusetts. The
group consisted of the Deputy Divi-
sion Chief (DDC) and representa-
tives from the Prepress Branch and
System Staff. Prior to departure, the
DDC expressed concern over weath-
er conditions, thinking that perhaps
the possibility of being caught in a
snowstorm was in our favor! But as
persistent and as excited as we were,
we convinced our DDC that there
was "no problem." Shortly after our
arrival (day two) weather conditions
became slightly different than we had
expected; it snowed 13 inches!! We
no doubt scored some real points
with our beloved leader (hello
One phrase a manager never wants to
hear is "I told you so!" At any rate,
during our visit the fact was soon
recognized that this system held
monumental possibilities in terms of
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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enhancing prepress and being an as-
set until a direct-to-plate system was
fully developed. Explored during this
expedition were the Rachwal projec-
tion system and an Autologic micro-
film recording unit (MRU) that
would output electronic text and line
graphics on 70mm film. After the
70mm film is processed and devel-
oped, which takes approximately
eight minutes, it then is loaded into
the projection plate system. The pro-
jection plate system is prepro-
grammed for impositioning and ca-
pable of handling virtually all
publications and forms consisting of
line type. Plate exposure time for 16
pages is approximately 10 minutes,
and as low as five minutes during
mass production. Each roll of film
holds 480 81/2-by-11 pages. In 1987
the decision was made for a lease-to-
purchase agreement to acquire the
Rachwal plate projection system.
Less than one year later an agree-
ment was made to purchase the sys-
tem. Again in 1988 yet another
agreement was reached to purchase
two of the newest models of the
Rachwal system, along with the Au-
tologic MRU.
Much has been accomplished this
year, such as renovation to install
these units, and training on the new
Rachwal system has just been
completed.
Although the benefits of this sys-
tem have not yet had full impact,
expectations of film savings alone are
nothing short of tremendous. And
when the dust finally settles and the
system is fully implemented, turn-
around time for a typical job is ex-
pected to increase dramatically. Su-
perior quality printed material will
be permitted to take a more stream-
lined approach to production, while
typical publications, forms, and a va-
riety of other printed material will
take a high-speed avenue toward
completion. The division is very ex-
cited about the addition of our new
systems and can clearly see that "the
future" is not on the distant horizon,
but in fact at our very doorstep.
A Blast from the Past
"I told you not to goose him!" What a
sight! And you told me he didn't have a
heart.
As we dust off the
spikes and pull out
the bats from under the
crawl space, here we go
again with another soft-
ball season.
One thing the Cou-
gars don't want to see is
being the bridesmaids By
of the A League for the third straight
year. Last year, the Cougars opened
the season by winning their first 13
games before the roof fell in, then lost
5 out of 7 games. So this year Coach
lvent out and re- (b)(3)
cruited some key play- (b)(6)
ers and hopefully the
gaps will be filled.
So far this season the
Cougars have responded
in a positive manner
with impressive double-
header victories over the
Pigeons and the Rowdies. It might
come down to the final game against
the Snakes to determine the A League
championship but the Blazers and
Bulldogs will be teams to reckon with.
1988 Cougars Schedule
Monday 6 June
Thursday 9 June
Thursday 23 June
Tuesday 28 June
Thursday 14 July
Monday 18 July
Monday 1 August
Ravens
Buzzards
Bulldogs
Blazers
Idiots Savant
Beavers
Snakes
Note: All games are doubleheaders and stak
Langley Fork I
Langley Fork II
Langley Fork II
Langley Fork II
Langley Fork I
Langley High School
Langley Fork I
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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(b)(3)
(b)(6)
Printing and Photography
Division Welcomes
Its Newest Employees
(b)(
(b)(
3)
6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
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