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Concepts of workflow

Concepts of workflow. Automation Integration Management of the process John Birkenshaw Pira International Ltd. Johnb@pira.co.uk. The evolving printing and publishing industries. Change from: Manufacturing focus to customer-centric service

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Concepts of workflow

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  1. Concepts of workflow Automation Integration Management of the process John Birkenshaw Pira International Ltd. Johnb@pira.co.uk

  2. The evolving printing and publishing industries Change from: • Manufacturing focus to customer-centric service • Print product to multiple media and communication services • Independent service providers to alliances • Independent service providers to consolidated one-stop-shop customer service provision • Mass production to mass customisation • Hard copy interchange and storage to digital data interchange and storage • Proprietary non-interfaceable systems to open and integrated copy flow and admin data flows Pira International Ltd.

  3. Building blocks • MIS Management information systems • administration processing and analysis/production efficiency • E-commerce systems • Customer relationship management systems • Digital workflow management systems • content processing, PPML • DAM Digital Asset Management • content and metadata storage • XML, PDF, JPEG, JPEG2000 • content structures • CIP3/CIP4/JDF, MPEG7 • metadata processing Pira International Ltd.

  4. MIS development areas • Customer relationship management – to improve customer service, manage sales and reduce cost of sales • E-commerce – providing customers with Internet access to MIS hosted web-site for suite of functions • Estimating – need for expert system approach to automate estimating and accept JDF data as input • Scheduling – Constraint based optimisation to enable scheduling in real time • JDF: Job Definition Format – to automate administrative processes, enhance production efficiency, provide status reporting and cost savings • Open systems adoption, a non-proprietary approach, industry-standard databases, web browsers, Internet communication protocols and JDF Pira International Ltd.

  5. Customer relationship management • A customer database • Enables 1:1 marketing – a “personal” approach • Provides a systematic record of ALL customer interactions • Something a print company can use • Something a print company’s customers can use • = an opportunity to sell personalised and customised print Pira International Ltd.

  6. Digital workflow management systems • Automation of pre-press processes • An interface with customers • Integration of processes • Colour management • Format conversion • RGB/CMYK conversion • Pre-flight • DAM • Imposition • Proofing • RIPping • Queue management Pira International Ltd.

  7. Digital Asset Management • Automation of content storage/retrieval, conversion, rights management • interfaces editorial processes with production processes • will typically store XML, PDF, JPEG, JPEG2000 Pira International Ltd.

  8. Turning workflow upside down • “Archive” was the final repository - the end of the workflow Pira International Ltd.

  9. Turning workflow upside down • “Archive” was the final repository - the end of the workflow • “Database” is now the centre of activity • the source of multiple versions for multiple media Pira International Ltd.

  10. File formats suited to DAM • XML - encodes user-definable structure • PDF - encodes typography, page layout (and optionally structure) • JPEG - continuous tone images (RGB, compressed) • JPEG2000 - continuous tone images • 50% of size of JPEGs • supports CMYK, RGB, ICC profiles • multi-resolution capability • XML based metadata (inc. IPR rights) Pira International Ltd.

  11. PDF

  12. What is XML? • XML=eXtensible Markup Language • Universal format for structured documents • Extensible=infinitely adaptable • Universal=applicable to all documents • Structured=all useful documents have structure • XML Schema specify the structure of documents and datatypes of each element • Encode metadata about a document Pira International Ltd.

  13. Common applications • Publishing • Multi-purposing, multi-media, archiving • Document authoring and editing • Electronic commerce transaction processing • Data transfer • Control and data acquisition (JDF) • MPEG-7 (multi-media metadata) • PPML (personalised Print Markup Language) Pira International Ltd.

  14. Impact of JDF • An XML based metadata format incorporating all admin and technical information about a job • Provides a mechanism to control, monitor, and provide communication between all processes in print production from job submission to delivery • A universal message format • Good foundation for non-proprietary Internet based e-commerce systems • Incorporates JMF (Job Message Format) for real time job status reporting • Enables automation of production system setup • Automation of estimating Pira International Ltd.

  15. JDF data flows Pira International Ltd.

  16. Overall workflow management • The “missing” function • Planning, scheduling, monitoring the whole workflow • Live status reporting • Pro-active notification of departure from plan • Some contenders: • Agfa Delano • Fuji Valiano • Open Text Livelink • MetaCommunications VirtualTicket Pira International Ltd.

  17. Conclusion:Key workflow concepts • Workflow is an all-embracing subject • Copy data, admin data, metadata • Impacts on the complete process and supply chain • Automated workflows bring versatility, efficiency and speed • Effective workflows require process integration and intercommunication • Non-proprietary and open • Need to be standards based e.g. XML, PDF, JDF • Necessary response to customer/market change • Necessary to survive in increasingly competitive market Pira International Ltd.

  18. Johnb@pira.co.uk Pira International Ltd

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