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Data Management
The printing industry is confronting a multitude of very severe conditions - demand for quicker turnaround due to the wide use of CTP, shorter runs caused by many diverse needs, lower print prices as a result of cost reductions and competition, and pressure on profits from rising raw materials costs.
This situation makes a new management strategy essential for maintaining and growing the business.
As a way out of this predicament, printers are looking carefully at the need for 'total business optimization' covering everything from planning of the printed item to final shipment.
The core of this approach is the establishment of a digital workflow based on a JDF network.
- Integration of separate processes through JDF
JDF enables information sharing across processes and departments
- The Job Definition Format (JDF) developed by CIP4 is a common language for communication among different systems. In practical terms, JDF enables the exchange and sharing of information across the thresholds of processes and departments. In addition, JDF enables the integration of processes that have been largely divided into two areas, which are difficult to synchronize due to the nature of the processes.
Specifically, these are business management (mainly DTP data management, order receiving and placement, job management, progress management, and cost management) and production management (print and paper specifications, operating results, and postpress/finishing specifications).
- Will building a JDF-ready network solve everything?
- Before concluding that JDF is the same thing as “total optimization”, it is important to recognize that although a network exists for the connected flow of information (software) and allows use of information from nearly all printing business processes by means of JDF, the end-point of each process on which the information is based is without exception hardware, such as a proofer, CTP system, printing press, or guillotine. No matter how well the flow of data is implemented, it will be ineffective unless the end-point devices are consistent and predictable. Overall optimization will be much influenced by the digital compatibility and performance of each device.
Komori believes that total optimization is greatly affected by the complete implementation of partial optimization - optimizing partial processes by applying JDF.
Digital workflow with the DoNet concept
- Partial optimization through "perfect work" without 'backwards processes:
‘Print standardization’ required
- Reducing ‘wasteful costs’ must be considered in optimizing individual processes. Most wasteful costs are caused by additions and revisions in various processes, in other words ‘backwards processes.’ To eliminate such backwards processes, it is important to establish ‘perfect work’ - with the work contents of each process thoroughly sorted out, output in just the right quantities, and flawless results passed to the next process.
Achieving this requires digital-ready presses capable of high-level numeric control and the software to process this data efficiently.
It is important to combine this hardware and software to build an environment for ‘Print Process Stabilization - Printing Standardization.’
This will allow the structuring of a business network capable of solid, high-efficiency data management via JDF, in which only the most-needed, high-quality information is filtered out.
- Building a digital workflow with the DoNet concept
- DoNet is a digital workflow concept centered on digital-ready, high-performance printing presses - the final output device of printed items - based on the press manufacturer's viewpoint of supporting printing standardization. For linkage with prepress and postpress equipment, Komori assures world-class JDF connectivity and conducts frequent interoperability testing with systems from other manufacturers and vendors. This way, Komori implements open architecture thinking with the first priority on users' operating environments.
To achieve further optimization, Komori has specified seven 'issue areas' and developed products offering solutions for these issues - Color Management, Operator Support, Short Makeready, High Speed Printing Stability, Material Loss Reduction, Production Process Optimization, and Environment Standardization.
DoNet Systems
- Data Management
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