DST Output's East Operation Center Named Among IndustryWeek's Top 10 Best Plants

SOUTH WINDSOR, CONN, December 17, 2008 – DST Output’s East Operation Center, located in South Windsor, Conn., was honored as one of IndustryWeek magazine’s 2008 Top 10 Best Plants in North America. The company’s East facility is profiled with other Top 10 winners in the January issue of IndustryWeek Magazine.

“This achievement is a reflection of the professionalism demonstrated by our associates in the Hartford area and across our organization, whom I am extremely proud of,” says Steve Towle, DST Output CEO. “It is a tribute to the processes, operations and best practices we have in place to be a premier provider of statement and billing output solutions.”

The award represents a third Top 10 honor for DST Output. Its West Operation Center (in El Dorado Hills, CA) also was recognized in 2007 and 2002 (Top 10 winners are allowed to carry the crown for five years). The East Operation Center also was recognized in 2007 among 21 Best Plant finalists.

“To have another one of our facilities designated as a Top 10 award winner is truly remarkable and well deserved,” says DST Output Executive Vice President Karl Turner. “It’s an honor to once again be acknowledged by IndustryWeek as a leader in the industry.”

The 19th annual competition included a rigorous selection process conducted by a panel of IndustryWeek editors and trusted external advisors. The process included reports on management practices and plant performance in areas such as quality, customer and supplier relations, employee involvement, application of new technologies, productivity, cost reductions, manufacturing flexibility and responsiveness, inventory management, environmental and safety performance, new product development and overall market results.

Selection of the final Top 10 winners from IndustryWeek’s list of finalists then involved evaluation by outside experts, review of additional information provided by the finalists and site visits to validate performance data and management practices reported in the applications.

About DST Output

DST Output, a subsidiary of DST Systems Inc., provides integrated print and electronic statement and billing output solutions to many of the country’s largest financial services, communications, insurance, healthcare, and utilities companies. In 2007, DST Output and its affiliates produced more than 2.6 billion customer communications, delivered throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K. via postal service, express delivery and over the Internet.
We are the largest third-party First-Class™ mailer in the United States and the world’s largest inkjet systems printer.  For more information, visit www.dstoutput.com.