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MIS Offerings

The leading management information system supplier, EFI, with 8,500 plant installations has the unenviable task of convincing their vast client base, who are overwhelming utilizing software that is several version generations outdated, to move up to their current software version. Rather than “fire” these clients, who are at least providing some modest annual maintenance revenues, EFI has chosen the high road and announced at Print ’05 that their new Executive Information System (EIS), which is a crafty web-based dashboard visualization tool for quick data analysis and business intelligence, will be available to all clients free who are on the most current software version of Hagen™, Logic™ and PSI™. Additionally a “production planning” module, which will be invaluable to the CSRs of general commercial printers, is under development and will be shown at Connect ’06.

Having had a number of faltered starts at responding to their clients’ urgings for a warehouse management system (WMS) to manage their fulfillment services, EFI is offering a proven solution from third party software integrator, Manhattan Associates. MA also has a nifty shipping management capability honed with their many product fulfillment clients but unfortunately no real mail services management component. The two firms have an exclusive agreement relative to the printing industry according to Chuck Gehman, EFI Director of Print MIS Product Marketing.

Inexperienced as an MIS supplier but an unabashed technology entrepreneur, Kodak announced their product development efforts toward an all encompassing print management information system to be called Enterprise Management Solution (EMS). Initiated by Kodak’s subsidiary Creo, EMS is being touted as a leapfrog of the market leader EFI by having both scalable and highly integrated software modules that go beyond estimating, costing and accounting to embrace sales force management, customer relationship management and the unique demands of the more popular value-added services such as digital print, fulfillment and mailing. Additionally through JDF connectivity the integration with PREPS™ imposition software and the Synapse Upfront™ job planning tool could make EMS a formidable MIS package. Beta sites will be selected in 2006.

RFID: A must have technology for printers

NPES very wisely organized for the first time an RFID pavilion. While there were less than a dozen exhibitors, this was plenty to let printers begin the process of learning how these specialty tags and labels can fit into their postpress and fulfillment workflows and be of distinct benefit to their packaging clients. At this stage printers should be learning the basics in order to position themselves as their client’s technical consultant with regard to this supply chain management trend.

For these specific products as well as all others at the trade show it would be helpful to refer to the following website which will allow quick and easy product search. Hopefully NPES will leave this website active for some time.

Efficient production of digital short run or on demand printed books includes finishing solutions that can accommodate either perfect bound or stitched requirements. Muller’s SigmaLine™ or the IBIS Smart-binder can fill this bill. The SigmaLine™, with its fully integrated and automated eight-module concept, has gained a lot of press including a 2005 PIA/GATF Technology Award but only a single North American sale thus far. The IBIS was shown running effectively in the Xerox booth.

Muller reports that their Supra automated stitcher can replace up to three legacy stitchers while the smaller tempo automated unit might still replace at least two analog units. Of the latest technology machines being installed by Muller only 20% are immediately being integrated into plant wide JDF enabled networks. At least that’s 20% that are making hay while keeping a low profile among their competitors.

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