JDF - Real World Experience

[30YearsandCounting]

So how many people are actually using JDF connectivity on a daily basis? Everyone is talking about it, but I'd like to hear from people who are doing it right now. How easy or difficult it has been to implement. What about equipment? What was needed to talk to that press or folder? Does it work and if so... how expensive was it to get everything talking to each other? In hindsight, would you do it again or should you have waited until the JDF/JMF "standards" are approved?

[David]

We are in the process of implementing a full JDF workflow here.
Trying to work out the last few bugs.

It's getting there, but it's kinda tough to get all the pieces to fit together.


Cheers,
David

[zox]

David are you implementing full blown thing with MIS to drive it or just part?
Is it hot folder based or direct?

It is interesting to get some real life users out there, shed some light please.

Thanks

[David]

Yes, we use Metrix (layout calculator) with our MIS system Prism.
It will be when completed, a full blown JDF workflow. We've been working with the engineers at Prism and LithoTechnics to interface the two and coordinate with the Heidelberg presses and the Polar cutters.

Parts should be:
Imposition templates to prep, ink key preset info to press, and cutter data to bindery, in addition to all the other stuff, job tracking, data retrieval, etc.

At the moment, we are not working on a hot folder set up (we could if we wanted to), but I'm sure that will also happen in the near future.
Trying to iron out the hard parts first.

hope this helps,
David

[30YearsandCounting]

In what area have you seen the biggest savings? Prepress... pressroom... bindery? On an "average" job, how much time are you really saving? Do your customers see the advantage in better service or better pricing?

Thanks,

[David]

Originally Posted by 30YearsandCounting

In what area have you seen the biggest savings? Prepress... pressroom... bindery? On an "average" job, how much time are you really saving? Do your customers see the advantage in better service or better pricing?

Thanks,

at the moment, no real savings.

When we get it all ironed out, we expect to see a serious time savings mostly in prepress, and bindery. We currently have the CSRs make layouts by hand (pencil, paper, ruler thing), then we get a copy in prepress and we re-do it in an electronic format (a redundant effort).

The JDF workflow will start in Estimating, then when we get the job, it will go to the CSRs to complete with the final job specs, create the imposition and save/export the JDF data. We will be getting Metrix to give us (prepress) the impose file so we can do an auto-impose via a hot folder/auto ticket, (save the redundant effort, which in some cases, can be as little as 30 minutes or as much as 2-3 hours per job).
It's really hard to get a feel on the savings in time and money until we get all the departments sync'ed up.

We are also in the process of remodeling the estimating department (upstairs moving to downstairs) and prepress (adding a CDI unit some time early this year, gotta rearrange some furniture to make room for the bad boy!)). All this tends to slow things down a bit.

hope this helps,
David

[zox]

This is interesting, thanks for info.

When you say Estimating, do you mean planning or estimating or both?

We have estimating but we have separate planning department that is kind of more important to Prepress.

When we do our upgrade integration, we'll start small with planners creating imposition for prepress and than later we'll include full MIS.

I find it very interesting as a project.

Thanks again David.

[David]

yes, Estimating is estimating. They do a little planning, just to get close to real numbers, but in most cases, there is a little more to it than that, so they leave the minute details up to the Production Dept.

Planning for you is our Production Dept. (CSRs). They actually plan and coordinate the in-house and any outside services/finishing. This is also where the press (webs and sheetfeds) scheduling happens. And, like you, tend to think this is more important to prepress, especially due to the fact that they will be making impositions for us here in the near future. They are the central point for all the info that we need, and are a direct connection to any creative people that are involved in the projects.

You are more than welcome,
glad to be of any help,
David

[30YearsandCounting]

I thank David for his valuable insight. My original question was how many people are actually using JDF today. The lack of other responses makes me think that not many people are prepared to spend the time and money required to be "bleeding edge". I guess real JDF connectivity is not quite ready for prime time.

[David]

I think you may be right.

8O

it's a dream that hasn't really hit fruition yet.


cheers,
David