COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING -- Systems that Serve a Greater Good

Internet portals for online proofing and job submission (with upfront preflighting) have been the most common first steps. Full-fledged e-commerce and e-production represent the next level of customer integration.

On the production side, interfacing to a shop's business systems (MIS or ERP) is seen as a linchpin for the end-to-end CIM/JDF workflow. There also is a trend toward enabling offset and digital printing devices to be driven by a common workflow, but variable data printing and other considerations still can justify use of dedicated systems. Offset workflows will be considered here, since they're at the forefront of JDF adoption.