Dr. Mark Bohan, Director, Prinect and CtP, Heidelberg USA
We continue to see the trend of shorter run lengths and faster turnaround times
for printed material. While all of this is occurring, it is expected that market pricing will be maintained while consumables and paper prices increase. This all leads to pressure on the profitability of companies, which averages 2 to 3 percent according to the latest Printing Industries of America studies. How can companies pull themselves out of what looks like a continual downward spiral? The only answer is to look at the manufacturing processes and invest in technologies that drive automation and efficiency. It’s been shown that industry leaders in terms of profit will be investing twice as much in technology as those with profit potential (Figure 1). The impact for a $10-million company would be, on average, 17 fewer people in production.
Figure 1: Investment per employee
The Smart Print Shop
Today, we have optimized many individual systems
within our manufacturing processes. While efficiencies can be gained in each of these processes, it is only through a cohesive approach—one that utilizes system integration, the Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, and data—that the entire value chain can be configured for optimal performance for the Smart Print Shop. In the Smart Print Shop we can leverage these
processes in six key areas that will drive both efficiency and profitability: • Customer Interaction • Reducing Touchpoints • Driving Productivity and Uptime • Reducing Waste and Inventory • Optimizing Consistency and Repeatability • Business Intelligence
Optimized customer interaction facilitates ease of
working and connectivity between the printer and their customers, driving customer loyalty while making it difficult for them to move to other print providers. This connectivity includes the use of portals to provide 24/7 access to request jobs, submit artwork, and track progress. The customer interaction needs to encompass the whole of the production and business activities; too many times it is limited to one or the other. This initial customer contact can immediately and automatically trigger production and business activities to start a process.
Technology
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