Software 101
Business management software suites offer all the bells and whistles; the hard part is deciding where to begin.
WHETHER YOUR PROBLEM is scheduling, book keeping, inventory, e-commerce, or all the above, business and production management software could be the answer. Not sure which suite is right for you? packagePRINTING went right to the source for a rundown of some of today's popular solutions.
pP: What is your newest software package? What advantages does it provide users
Esad Suskic, Pandora product marketing manager, ScenicSoft: Pandora is a native PDF-based prepress production tool for packaging and label layouts. It was created for packaging printers looking for a cost-effective digital prepress solution. In addition to PDF output, Pandora can also output Adobe Portable Job Ticket Format files (PJTF) and Job Definition Format files (JDF), as well as PostScript. This enables Pandora to inter-operate with many of today's PDF-, PJTF-, or JDF-based workflow systems.
Tony Caudill, sales manager, Pace Systems: We recently introduced ePace. This web-based and wireless-compatible solution can run on any platform or device that can operate a Web browser. The ePace System includes an integrated accounting system and advanced e-commerce features for direct interaction with customers.
Chris Wood, VP/sales and marketing, Radius Solutions: Our estimating system contains functionality for the different packaging sectors. It has been designed for multi-plant environments, which enables larger converters to understand and control the cost/benefits of production at Plant A, Plant B, or both. The automated Shop Floor Data Collection System allows information to be sent to and from an in-house production scheduling system, or PECAS, in real-time.
John Knowlton, marketing director, PRIMAC Systems: We have just released our Enhancement Release 12, which adds new functionality across all the modules. This includes new features for our production scheduling/job tracking system. Now, when running any report or doing invoices, PO's etc., the user has the choice to print it, e-mail it, or create a PDF. Inventory is now tied to fiscal periods.
Ken Meinhardt, president, Tailored Solutions: Label Traxx 3.3 is designed for the narrow-web label market. It includes prospect tracking, estimating, order processing, AR, AP, and GL. We have optional modules to handle finished-goods inventory, quality control, and Internet data access, and we recently added sales budgeting and executive trends tools.
Glen Forbes, VP/sales, Western Region, CRC Information Systems: Our latest release of THE System is Rev 19, which incorporates several new features. For example: Flowchart-style menu structure guides end users through each step of the job cycle. The new financial ratios module puts the information from a financial statement into perspective (graphically), allowing management to spot financial patterns. The e-commerce modules allow buyers to submit job specifications and review AR statements from their printer's Web site. And the new Executive Overview module gives the ability to create user-defined inquiry screens.
Gina Padgett, marketing manager, Concord Business Solutions: Axapta for Converting offers printers integrated estimating and price quoting, which helps printers achieve disciplined pricing practices, consistent quoting, and the ability to compare planned and actual job costs. Touch-screen, shop-floor data collection accurately captures job costing information and provides real-time data validation. Multiple units of measure can also be used throughout the entire production process, eliminating manual conversions.
pP: What challenges are associated with an initial installation?
Caudill: The biggest challenge is training employees to use the new system. Sometimes new hardware and operating systems are required. This means many of the every day applications (such as word processing) must also be implemented. Although additional personnel are probably not necessary, the existing employees must find time to learn new procedures. This will help the entire organization become more efficient in the long term.
Wood: There are many challenges associated with an implementation: the number of staff available for training, employee motivation, a desire for change, clarity of project scope, management, and end-user buy-in for the implementation. It is essential to recognize and plan for all the real-world issues that may arise.
Forbes: Time. The biggest challenge is getting the customer to dedicate enough time to the project. Implementing a new system is not difficult, but it does take a few months of on-going training in order to ensure success. Managers need to get behind the project and make it a priority or it could drag out much longer than it needs to.
pP: What does a plant need to do to ensure an effective integration/installation?
Meinhardt: The most important thing is management support—followed closely by time to implement the new system. [Management] being open to the change is also important—this system will be different and that's a good thing.
Knowlton: In the current economy, coupled with shorter job turnaround time and the demand for more productivity, better efficiency and tighter cost control, a management information system is the key element. Delivering better productivity will involve further enhancements within existing PRIMAC modules, including integrating PRIMAC to press information systems and computer integrated manufacturing systems, and expanding e-commerce offerings.
