Key EFI Productivity Software at PRINT 17
At PRINT 17, EFI (Booth 2302) is presenting new versions of six Productivity Suites for commercial print and packaging. Each Suite is scalable with an MIS/ERP to fulfill key business management processes through certified workflows. Suites contain a variety of business and production tools, including scheduling, estimating, shop floor data collection, eCommerce and marketing tools, third-party prepress integration, supply chain, and transportation management.
Visibility and accountability
The Productivity Workbench—a one-click, live dashboard—is on display with each of the Suites. The Workbench connects multiple MIS/ERP and component systems in a customizable live dashboard view, gathering real time data with “ContextSense” links back into the system. The availability of Workbench widgets are based on a user’s role within the organization, and can be customized to display the information most critical to each user.
Also new at the show is the EFI Auto-Count 4D (AC4D) shop floor data collection solution, a platform that allows automatic collection of production data directly from the shop floor. Designed to help businesses make strategic decisions that affect the bottom line, EFI AC4D communicates with the primary EFI MIS/ERP solutions, scheduling solutions, and Fiery (via Plant Manager).
EFI SmartCanvas is the latest addition to the EFI Digital StoreFront platform, providing an online design environment to version and edit documents using a HTML5 interface. With SmartCanvas, Digital StoreFront administrators can create templates for a variety of products. Buyers can then use design tools to personalize products without the need for third-party applications or plug-ins.
Another new offering in the EFI booth, the EFI Metrix optimized layout and planning solution, enables users to calculate the most efficient mix of print layouts—an essential feature to maximize productivity and throughput. For more efficient print times and use of media, users can place multiple jobs in the Fiery print queue, and Metrix will gang them together instantly, reducing the overhead of manual job imposition and planning by 80%.
Corrugated packaging production
The EFI Corrugated Packaging Suite Manufacturing Execution System (MES), includes a new Corrugated Business System (CBS). The software’s single browser interface allows for fast spec definition, so users can build their orders with no additional pop-up windows. Two primary data screens contain more than 95% of the information needed in the data entry process.
By capturing more-complete specifications earlier in the process, users can estimate and plan more efficiently. The CBS software also makes shop floor data collection more efficient, and gives users the power to route products across multiple work centers.
The continued trends toward increased automation—whether it be the removal of touch points, reduction in waste, or decrease in human error—is critical for improved productivity and profitability. At PRINT 17, EFI experts will be on hand to learn about visitors’ business requirements, and recommend solutions that will help their operations perform more efficiently and profitably.
