The Operational Excellence for the 2nd Century (OE2C) project announced March 6 its ability to dramatically decrease procurement costs and increase resources in the upcoming months through new actions within the Procurement Initiative.

Through what the project calls “quick wins,” the university is projected to save up to $1 million annually by reducing spending on office supplies, personal printers and other categories. This will be done through campus involvement, improved services and policy adjustments.

One plan includes purchasing office supplies from a preferred vendor who can offer products at discounted prices. According to the OE2C website, currently 30 percent of SMU’s office supplies are purchased through high-cost vendors at retail price.

“For this reason, beginning April 1, 2015, all office supplies must be purchased through Staples Advantage by designated departmental contacts,” said OE2C Procurement Team Executive Sponsors Lori White, vice president of student affairs, and Al Niemi, dean of the Cox School of Business, in a statement.

Printing costs are will be reduced after an evaluation of existing printers is done through ImageNet Consulting that will map existing printers. Beginning in April, ImageNet Consulting will provide discounted toner cartridges, hardware repair services and printer equipment installations to SMU. This change will increase overall network printers and reduce costs of personal toner, saving approximately $150 thousand to $200 thousand per year, according to the Procurement Team Executive Sponsors.

To reduce duplicate, personal costs, the OE2C team is asking SMU employees to voluntarily turn in their personal desktop printers, use Ricoh for performing special print jobs and access common subscriptions through the Central University Library website.

“In addition to reducing costs, our Procurement Initiative goals are to decrease administrative workload, focus on sustainability and improve quality of services,” the OE2C Procurement Team Executive Sponsors said.