Description
Technological development has brought more control, automation and sophistication to every stage of the label and package printing process. While these advances offer vast opportunities, they also add huge levels of complexity to the management of each project. Severe bottlenecks, job delays, quality issues and shrinking profits are common in print companies that fail to apply the right management solution.
To fulfil the needs of modern label and package printing production, a large number of management information systems (MIS), specialized and niche software solutions and evolving hardware have been developed. While their positive impact on profitability and competitive advantage is undeniable, many have very specific applications. Choosing which is suitable for your operation is a time-consuming and challenging process and getting it wrong can be a costly mistake.
Expert guidance can be found in this book. It is an exploration of MIS and workflow automation systems, aiding the choice and implementing of suitable systems and technologies.
Including a detailed appendix of industry suppliers, this book is a valuable and convenient reference source for label and package printers, industry suppliers and many brands.
Chapters include:
- Managing information in the label industry
- Estimating for label and package printing
- Order processing and job management
- Efficient job planning and production scheduling
- Inventory control - raw materials, warehouse 32 and finished goods
- Quality control
- Job costing and shop floor data collection
- Accounting and financial management
- Workflow automation - today and tomorrow
- Choosing an MIS system and finding a supplier
- Suppliers of management information and workflow 80 automation systems
About the Author
Michael Fairley has been writing and speaking about label and packaging materials, technology and applications since the 1970s, both as the founder of Labels & Labeling and other print industry magazine titles and as an international consultant writing label industry market and technology research reports for the likes of Frost & Sullivan, Economist Intelligence Unit, Pira, InfoTrends and Labels & Labelling Consultancy. He now works as a consultant to Tarsus Exhibitions & Publishing - which organizes the Labelexpo shows, Label Summits and publishes Labels & Labeling magazine - as well as regularly speaking at industry conferences and seminars. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Package / Packaging Society, Fellow of IP3, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers, an Honorary Life Member of FINAT and a Licentiate of the City & Guilds of London Institute. He was awarded the R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.