Editor's note: The Management Information System (MIS) is a system designed for the printing industry that allows users to streamline business processes and improve business efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Just like the construction of freeway traffic, the Print Management Information System (MIS) is also designed to manage the entire printing process. Print service providers of all sizes (from express printing shops to commercial printing plants to in-house printing centers) see MIS systems as an effective way to simplify production processes, increase productivity, and reduce costs. Every printer needs a solution that is tailor-made for them, so they need to find the one that suits them best among the many options.
Many of the print MIS systems on the market today are tailored for a particular printer because the owners of these companies are aware that they cannot rely on their ability to track and manage multiple different processes, such as quotes, checkouts, and Inventory control and so on. Custom-developed software will slowly evolve into a mature product that will then be adopted by the printing house. This creates a highly detailed market that we see today: a printing MIS system can only meet the needs of a particular type/scale print shop.
These customized products will gradually evolve into dozens of different solutions, and all you need to do is assess your current and future needs. This article will focus on the importance of print management information systems, discuss its implementation process, and provide a series of tips for manufacturers and end users of MIS systems.
Choose a system
There are many MIS solutions currently available for printing service providers, so you have to find the one that best suits your business needs. Some companies may only need to introduce an entry-level system and use the most basic work modules, such as work order tracking, invoice development, calculation of accounts receivable, and cost accounting. Some companies may need to use a function. More and higher-end systems, these systems must have customized features to bring the highest efficiency and cost-effectiveness to users.
Scott St.Cyr, head of Cyrious Software, said: "The idea of ​​the MIS system is to use computing meter technology to help people manage all aspects of the printing business. The management information system begins with salesperson management systems and customer relationship management, and then through evaluation and Quotes, processing of production details and cargo transportation, and finally returning to accounting and marketing.â€
For printing companies, the most important thing is to choose a MIS system that can meet their needs. Solutions needed for quick print shops and small print shops may be quite different from large commercial printers and in-house print shops. Printers who have both offset and digital printing equipment must take into account equipment compatibility issues, and printers who can provide special services (large format, packaging, labels, and web offset) also need to determine what they are The selected management system can meet the special needs of these services.
Chris Wood, vice president of sales and marketing at DiMS!, said: "The use of the MIS system is critical to the success of the printing plant, and it can integrate multiple formation and production processes to better manage the entire printing business."
Gerald Walsh, EFI’s product marketing and strategy manager, said: “Inappropriate selection of MIS solutions may cause a series of problems that make printers feel pain.â€
Bob Kutschke, general manager of Kodak’s Graphic Business Group’s Business Workflow Products Group, said: “When selecting a printed MIS system, you should have a thorough understanding of these systems. You are not buying a product, but you are Business platform for assessment, this platform will bring you growth and strategic goals for the next seven to ten years."
We have previously discussed who should use the MIS system, where they should go to find the MIS system and why they should regard the MIS system as an important part of the enterprise. Next, we should discuss how we should ensure that the MIS system is smooth. The implementation of the problem.
The importance of training
A print management system can be integrated into any link in a workflow. At the same time, its implementation will have a major impact on every link. It is very important to train some employees and let them master the operation knowledge of these systems. In addition, it is important for key employees to truly understand what is printed MIS.
It is precisely because training has occupied such an important position, so many suppliers have calculated this part of the cost in the quotation of the MIS system. Chris Wood of DiMS! pointed out: "Training plays a vital role in maximizing the performance of the system, and the training time required by each individual mainly depends on their learning curve."
Ian Foss, market coordinator at CRC Information Systems, said: “Many of our customers have not hired professional IT technicians to manage these systems. The people who use this software are generally experienced staff who not only understand the needs of the company. , And can master the computer and related software.So far, any software solution requires hardware support, but to provide users with training and support services has become a responsibility of the software distributor, which for the MIS system The successful application is also of crucial importance."
Software distributors emphasize the importance of experienced employees for the seamless integration of MIS systems. Julianne Finley, chief operating officer of PrinterPlus, said: "Any printing MIS system, no matter how excellent its performance, can only be used to the maximum effect when used by the formal training operators."
St.Cyr added: "Don't cross the training/consultation process. The more you try without formal training, the more time you spend is wasted. From the money point of view, the ideal is not found. Operators are a financial mistake committed by printing companies."
Internal Solutions Vs. Application Service Providers
Another worrying issue is that when applying MIS systems, printers must choose between finding an application service provider (ASP) and an internal solution.
DiMS!’s Wood said: “Most of our large and medium-sized customers have their own IT staff, but we have found that these large companies seem to be more inclined to install their own servers and maintain and maintain them themselves. Some printing companies are more willing to choose hosting servers and software because IT resources are relatively limited, which not only saves costs, but also eliminates the need for small businesses to establish IT departments, so that they can focus on their core business. ."
EFI seems to be more focused on internal service solutions. Walsh said: "We have both capabilities, but most of our systems are hosted by customers. Of course, there are exceptions to everything, and some customers are willing to cooperate with application service providers."
Although most of EFI's customers have their own solutions, many of the software provided by the company are based on the ASP (Application Service Provider) model. Walsh said: "For example, we are now providing customers with some of the ASP version of the Internet tools, and can maintain the Internet technology, servers and software updates. We support the direct connection from the ASP to the EFI management system, so that can make printing And their customers get a seamless production experience.â€
He added: "Our customers don't see ASP as a decisive factor. It's just a solution. We care about whether it can meet the needs of the company. From this perspective, we have been very successful. It's up."
J DF: Collaboration between Business and Production
The job definition format or JDF is the bridge between the management information system and the production workflow. JDF based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) can track the status of a print job in multiple devices, calculate and transfer related data, such as production records and evaluation information.
InfoTrends's Sumarta said: "Until recently, printed MIS systems and printing production have been viewed as two separate workflows. In many cases, the ticket information we create in the MIS system often needs to be entered in the job. Re-enter the production program, and vice versa, any change in the print production information requires the operator to make manual changes in the MIS system.If we have already seen the automated work flow from the integration of the production workflow and the MIS system Birth.The integrated system must work under a unified standard, JDF is one of them.Under ideal condition, the user must use the JDF-compliant system to realize the free exchange of the work order between the two systems. And the supplier of this system must disclose its own source code to the distributor of another system.†The standardized print management information system will become easier when combined with the production workflow.
Screen (United States) company for our example of the Trueflownet system, which is a terminal-to-terminal workflow management system. According to the screen company, this comprehensive network of modular, extensible, open workflow elements can control the entire workflow from order creation to finished product delivery, enabling it to be used in computer-to-plate and digital printing environments. Reduce costs and production time, and improve work efficiency.
These modules can bridge design, prepress, printing, post-press processing, and delivery, eliminating the barriers to communication between production services and management information services, and they can guarantee every function and system structure. Stay independent.
In response to market demand, EFI launched the PrinterSiteExchange system, which integrates EFI's workflow and MIS solutions perfectly. It can create an interactive client desktop and connect the print client's desktop directly to the printer's management system or even the production floor via the Internet.
Walsh explained the entire production process for us. He said: "If a customer wants our company to help him print a new product, they can communicate with us and provide us with detailed production specifications and content through the PrinterSite desktop. This specification can Directly flows to the planning system and can be used to create quotes and start production processes. The documentation attached to the production specification can be performed by our planning software.