Workflow Automation for Print Production

White Paper
October 2009

Table of Contents

Executive Summary Customer Expectations from Print Service Providers Integration of Workflow Interface available with EFI: Monarch Planner module suite A schematic overview Key Functional Features

Executive Summary
The role of Print Service providers is changing across world. The expectations of customers are rising, typically wanting more for less. The more technology orientation in this service brings new dimensions to competition as well costs. The digital printing is the latest new chapter to this traditional industry. Reducing costs, by simplifying processes, remains the best way for printing businesses to increase their margins. Manufacturers of mid-to-high volume digital printing engines know that server-based, operator-centric software solutions, help end users reduce the costs associated with the end-to-end manufacture of complex digitally printed documents. The prudent business response to the market demand for increased automation, control and visibility into production print workflows. Repro must look for an integrated, server-based PDF workflow and input/output management suite. It must be very tailored to Repro needs but build upon the proven strengths of industry standard practices, state-of-art solutions in color production printing workflow, process management, centralized operator interface, late-stage document editing, intelligent routing, load balancing and error recovery. The components & pre-requisites towards a unified workflow: 1. Integrated Job Management back end framework 2. Job Planning backward integration 3. Job Workflow layers 4. Job Scheduling forward integration 5. Content Storage & Management framework

THE CUSTOMER EXPECTATION FROM PRINT SERVICE PROVIDERS

Source: CAPV, 2005

Print users to harness technology, synchronize complex internal processes to satisfy customer expectations, and control those processes to reduce costs, shorten turn-around times and drive bottom line profits. A composite delivery to the end customer will be focused expectation. Mere print as a service is not adequate value preposition. More e-Delivery options will emerge with time.

INTEGRATION OF WORKFLOW

EFI MONARCH PLANNER based integration, key function points Auto job Creation
EFI Hagen can trigger the automated creation and mapping of one or more jobs in Prinergy via JDF/JMF. Job setup parameters like the Prinergy template job to be used or enabling access to the job for your customers through the Kodak Insite web portal can be controlled in Business Link on a per customer basis.

Impositions
A small set of imposition parameters can help support the imposition selection process for some customers. A small Preps template library that is free of duplicates is required. The information provided by Hagen is insufficient to allow automatic generation of imposition by Prinergy.

JDF CONNECTOR
Job Definition Format (JDF) Imposition Templates supported. In Estimating and Jobs, added the ability for user to select Template ID during workflow (Kodak Preps Template References) Support creating Material Usage Transactions via JMF Signals

Prinergy Managed Connection to Fiery (Optional)

Managed Connectivity in Prinergy is any Digital Press connection configured in Prinergy Administrator and that is managed via the new Prinergy 5 Digital Direct application. Even a JDF Hot Folder on a Fiery can be configured in Prinergy and considered a Managed Connection. Managed connections are licensed and require the appropriate amount of licenses for the amount of managed connections you wish to handle through Digital Direct. So why would you choose the optional managed connectivity with Prinergy? Simple! With Digital Direct (regardless of JDF or JMF connection ) you can choose to filter, sort and manage the order in which jobs are submitted to the Digital Press. A busy shop for example that using the Fiery Hot Folder may still want to use Digital Direct to collect jobs and sort them such that all the jobs on the same stock with similar due dates are printed together. With unmanaged connectivity (point and shoot) this is not possible in Prinergy and would need to be managed on the individual Fierys.

INTERFACE AVAILABLE WITH EFI: Monarch Planner module suite

The manual touch points that will get eliminated from the process will lead to automation. This automation will provide opportunity to optimize the process in terms of Flexibility Shorter lead time Better control over the process sub tasks for accuracy and completeness This will also lead to the unification that is the key point. Unification here implies the files processed on this workflow environment will be able to be output to most common CTP devices (for offset printing) or to different digital press from a single PDF make ready file. This is the direct advantage. Repro will have to adopt Monarch Planner module to get the maximum benefit from this by way of complete integration with our Job Management practices. Further the addition of content storage and management for our title DTP, Design & PDF make ready activities will help consolidate.

A schematic overview

Key Functional Features

Workflow configuration offers automated processing, including preflight, color management, trapping, and imposition.

Digital Press Management A single centralized workflow solution that allows you to drive digital jobs with the power, flexibility and control on the same lines that one does with traditional print workflow. Now one workflow can control input, processing and output for conventional and digital print, with power and automation for streamlined productivity in all job sizes and run lengths.

Streamline Job Processing with Rules-Based Automation Rules-Based Automation with the ability to read JDF information in a job and use it to make intelligent decisions about how to process, impose and output files for automatic processing.

Accelerate Static and Variable Data Printing Use one workflow system to control static and variable printing. Support for Adobe Variable PDF files and the rich feature set of Adobe Acrobat 9 Software. Support for Adobes PDF Print Engine for transparent processing of native PDFs from the latest design and layout software.

The Workflow system with support for Powerful file preflighting, Color management Trapping Imposition Advanced screening support Flexible device connectivity Database driven production management. Digital Print Integration with operator control and routing of digital print tasks, and load balance jobs from delivery to press, with total visibility over the blended production environment, and optimized press utilization.