COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING -- Out With the Old?

"We do see the value in having Auto-Count be JDF-based, but that is a vision statement from the EFI standpoint," Walsh continues. "We have not begun the development of a JDF-based product." Such a system would have the potential to communicate with all JDF-compliant MIS applications, he says.

While its solution takes a slightly different form, DiMS! organizing print already has introduced what it terms a "JDF-ready" DMI module for its MIS solution. The module reportedly features a standardized, XML-based interface and provides a Web-enabled workflow that connects with production equipment. Users can interact with the system via a Web browser.