Digi Traxx provides the link to reap the benefits of automating the order entry and production process without replacing existing business systems.

Optimising your workflow by using an MIS will increase productivity, save time and money, and give customers a more streamlined experience. Neel Madsen reports.

As pre-press production becomes more efficient and automation on presses cuts changeover times, there is an increasing need to ensure that all steps in the whole production process are as effective as possible. Waste, be in materials or time, must be eliminated as far as possible. The software solution is to implement a complete management information system (MIS) to monitor, measure and manage operations. This becomes even more efficient when combined with a ‘lean management’ approach, which employs techniques to combat waste.

 

Integration needed

German software house, The Quick Brown Fox GmbH, offers the Aramis MIS and Portos web portal solution aimed mainly at packaging pre-press companies and trade shops. Customers include York Repro-graphics Group, Contact Originators, Reprographic Systems in Eire and Northern Ireland, and Matthews Brand Solutions.

Aramis is a job management solution specified for packaging print that can be adapted to the individual customer’s needs. Its user interfaces take into account the requirements for each individual job, be it corrugated, labels or film. There is also complete integration with Esko’s Automation Engine and Webcenter. The software will soon include print forme management to simplify trade shops’ daily operations through its automatic and transparent management of sleeves.

Willi Welsch, chief executive officer, commented, ‘I am surprised to see, how many companies in the UK are still working with several isolated tools for managing different parts of their business instead of using one integrated solution. The potential for automation by connecting the order entry system with the production workflow management system (such as Esko’s Automation Engine) via JDF/JMF is still immense, but in many companies left almost untouched. Yet, the understanding of integration options and benefits is constantly growing, this is something we are really observing and also are supporting by our Aramis MIS solution.’

He continued, ‘Pre-press providers are becoming more and more aware of the fact that integration necessarily needs to include their customers too. Web portals for comprehensive job tracking and online approvals, like our Portos, help to speed up the processes significantly and make them much more secure.’

 

Intelligent business

Shuttleworth Business Systems launched MIS version 5.1 at user meetings held in June and July. The new version incorporates Business Intelligence, a set of tools including enhanced dashboards, customer specific KPIs, user definable reporting, executive analysis and web based reporting together with mobile apps.

The MIS package also encompasses a new user interface. The design of the user interface has a Microsoft Outlook style, look and feel, making the software easier and intuitive to use whilst providing a customisable view for each user.

The company estimates that between 60% to 80% of the enquiries its customers receive come in via e-mail. It has therefore developed a drag and drop facility which allows e-mails to be imported directly into the system. This will recognise known customer addresses and create a new event while saving attached files.

Bryan Aplin, business development manager, said, ‘We have created the new interface so that our customers can get the maximum out of the MIS system and offer their customers the best level of service possible while maximising their sales opportunities.’ He explained that the upgrade is centred round the ability to use the system more quickly and efficiently in order to make it the centre of the business and drive all events through it.

Version 5.1 now enables user defined groups to be set up so that, for instance, sales can create a group, which shows only the areas of the system that is particularly relevant to them. Other new features include a search ability and an option to export data to Excel. 

Paul Deane said, ‘We are excited about the new version 5.1 as it offers an end to end MIS for printers of all types and sizes. There are many challenges facing printers today and, critical to the success of any modern business, is the need to add value to the supply chain and to deliver a world class customer service.’

 

Constant expansion

EFI acquired the MIS/ERP provider Radius Solutions in 2010, and in 2011, it further expanded by acquiring Prism Group. Both of these acquisitions enhanced the company’s portfolio of solutions for the packaging print industry, with Radius replacing the PSI Flexo system.

Radius is an integrated ERP/MIS solution for flexible packaging, labels and folding cartons that offers modules for every part of the business, including estimating and order handling, production scheduling, shop floor data collection, purchasing and materials movement, job costing, manufacturing resource planning, financial management, customer relationship management and business intelligence.

 

Whitlam Label goes live with EFI Radius
Whitlam Label is based in Center Line, Michigan, and has facilities around the world. It has recently become the latest EFI PSI Flexo user to convert and go live with EFI Radius ERP software for packaging, which is used by 75% of the top 400 printers in North America by revenue.
The printer worked closely with the EFI team and enjoyed a smooth and on schedule implementation of the ERP system. ‘It takes a talented group of committed people to implement an ERP system efficiently,’ said Alex Elezaj, chief operating officer at Whitlam Label. ‘Our group worked diligently with the Radius team and we accomplished what we set out to do in the expected timeframe.’
‘We are committed to strong customer care and to providing solid upgrade paths for our PSI Flexo users. We are looking forward to long term partnership and providing Whitlam with state of the art management systems designed to help manage business more proactively,’ said David Taylor, general manager of EFI Radius.

 

Digital link

The most recent product offering from Label Traxx is Digi Traxx, a new tool developed to give companies with existing business management systems the ability to automate order production to the HP Indigo press. Orders are accepted via XML with the tool adding key data elements such as digital eye marks and step and repeat, not in the existing system. It then creates the necessary JDF files and sends them to the HP digital front end or to Esko’s Automation Engine.

Commenting on the product introductions, vice president of sales and operations, Luther Erlund, said, ‘As more and more label printers and converters move to digital printing, they often find their existing business management software cannot fully support the complexities of the new digital presses. Digi Traxx provides the link to reap the benefits of automating the order entry and production process without replacing existing business systems.’

See the article on how to choose the right MIS system: click here