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EFI Donates MIS Tools at Ryerson GCM

Electronics For Imaging has made a donation of its Pace estimating MIS/ERP software to Ryerson University’s School of Graphic Communications Management (GCM) based in Toronto. The donation includes licenses for 75 concurrent users, allowing the school to provide more integrated premedia systems for training its students.

With a full-time enrollment of 660 students, Ryerson GCM offers the only four-year degree program in Canada focused on graphic communications. It has its own dedicated building on campus with 12 full-time and 10 part-time faculty members.

“Last year, we sat down and discussed our needs for the school,” said Martin Habekost, Associate Chair of Ryerson’s GCM program. “We wanted to teach more real-world estimating, but lacked the proper system to really do it effectively. The students do estimating by hand, but we couldn’t show them a sophisticated MIS system.

“EFI has solutions for almost all digital printing processes. We approached them and they were very responsive,” continued Habekost. “Access to Pace will enable our students to work on an industry standard system and allow for good interconnectivity between the different software solutions on our pre-media side and going into production.”

In addition to the Pace estimating module, EFI was already a key piece of digital infrastructure at GCM with its Fiery digital front ends helping to drive the school’s digital press and proofers. Students also work on EFI Metrix planning and automated imposition component software that is integrated into the Pace MIS.

EFI Pace – a browser-based solution – is the core MIS/ERP software behind EFI’s Midmarket Print Suite business and production management workflow for commercial and superwide-format print providers.

The software provides processes like estimating, scheduling, purchasing, inventory control, data collection, planning, accounting, reporting, and analysis. The system is also designed to optimize resource utilization, eliminate manual touchpoints, and reduce waste.

Ryerson GCM operates sheetfed offset, narrow-web flexo, and cut-sheet digital presses, along with several inkjet proofers, bindery and finishing equipment, and a full pre-media operation. Its curriculum focused on the management side of the printing industry, as well as in design, print production, sales, accounting, communications, marketing and critical thinking.

“We educate our students to go into the management side of the printing industry and be as multifaceted as it is today,” explained Habekost.