NEW YORK--April 30, 2003-- Xerox Corporation today announced that print and copy costs can be reduced up to 40 percent by implementing its Office Document Assessments. More than 200 Xerox Office Document Assessments have been completed for companies such as Siemens Medical Solutions, Microsoft Corporation, EDS Corporation, Dillard's Inc., and Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Evolved from a snapshot study of print and copy costs in 1997, the Xerox ODA - spotlighted here today as part of the company's aggressive office market strategy announcement - is now a Six Sigma-based consulting tool. By evaluating a company's entire document workflow environment, the ODA identifies areas where operating costs can be reduced, processes simplified and productivity improved. Certified Xerox Global Services consultants conduct the assessment on-site and provide a detailed, technology-agnostic transition plan that includes recommendations and the steps that must be taken to guarantee cost reductions and productivity improvements. Efficiencies can be gained, for example, by standardizing networked output systems, maximizing the use of document output devices, and improving tools and work habits to support productivity. "The ODA's value in today's cost-conscious, IT-savvy business world is its ability to provide print and copy savings based on Six Sigma methodologies," said Thomas J. Dolan, president, Xerox Global Services. "By instilling these methodologies and metrics into the implemented solutions, our clients can measure and monitor their cost and work process efficiencies over the long term." Industry research has identified a growing demand for assessments in the buying cycle for IT equipment services. Gartner Dataquest predicts the output assessment tool will become a key product, as top U.S. businesses will demand it on all major requests for proposal by the end of 2004. The ODA that Xerox completed for IT services leader EDS estimated that the company could reduce its cost of hardware, consumables and operational support by as much as 25 percent worldwide once deployment is complete. In addition to output cost savings, EDS will look at the ODA recommendations to improve tools, habits and work methods to support productivity. "There are numerous challenges to managing a consistent office environment for 137,000 employees worldwide, so we look to standardize on processes and hardware that help manage the complexities of an enterprise like EDS," said James Cook, director, Enterprise Operations, EDS Enterprise Information and Technology. "The ODA pinpointed areas of overlap in our print and output infrastructure and the inefficiencies they created. The results were important to the design and implementation of an improved, streamlined digital office environment."