Must Ask Questions of JDF Workflows

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Introduction

There are many questions to consider when choosing JDF compatible workflow modules, whether it is a single or mixed vendor solution; the questions are of more importance if the solution is from a mixed vendor solution. The following list, although not comprehensive or site specific, should provide a good launching pad for further discussion during your purchase cycle. The questions are limited in scope to the implementation of JDF within the workflow and are not feature specific such as remote proofing for prepress.

General

1. What version of the JDF specification is implemented?
   • The latest specification is version 1.4.
2. At what level is the company involved with the CIP4 organization? Founding member?
3. Does the company actively engage and attend the periodic interoperability meetings?
   • This should gauge the commitment to working with the JDF specification in an open, meaningful way.
4. Are there any certified JDF experts in the company?
   • These are people who have taken a stringent course and exam that understand the technical foundation of JDF. The list is currently at 30 as of January 2009.

MIS

1. Does the management system support JMF communication feedback for status updates from actual production? *
   • An example would be the proofer reporting back that the proof had been output.
2. Can these status updates trigger additional notification via e-mail or text message to the relevant production staff or the external customers?
3. Is there a built in scheduling system which uses JDF information for planning but also can receive JMF production updates from prepress, press, postpress?

Prepress

1. What information can be transferred into the production job? Contact management information such as address, e-mail? Electronic Job Ticket? Dates for scheduling purposes?
2. How much information can be extracted to preset the prepress workflow? Process/workflow plans? Stripping parameters for a dynamic, automatically created layout? Color set information?
3. Can additional costing information be charged back to the MIS system via JMF directly from within the prepress user interface or does it have to be done through a separate terminal?
   • This feature would be useful because the prepress operator would have a common interface to process files and also make additions to the job costing sent back to the MIS.
4. What production status updates can be sent from prepress? Proofs approved? Proofs output? Proofs waiting approval? Plates output?
5. What costing information (proof/plating time) and material consumption (proof material/plate counts) information can be sent back to MIS for cost analysis?

Press

1. What can be preset from the JDF data? Sheet counts? Ink profile? Sheet dimensions?
   • The ink profile would be indentical to PPF/CIP3 data. The sheet count would indicate to the press operator how many good sheets to produce (pluse overage for waste in bindery) in addition to how many waste sheets were allotted when the job was estimated. The sheet dimensions could also allow for automatic adjustments of the feed and delivery sections of the press.
2. Can custom operations such as "press check" (time and sheet counts) be sent from the press to MIS?
   • All production systems should be able to report back customized operation for job costing as print shops vary in the data needed for proper cost analysis.

Postpress

1. What preset functionality can be utilized by the cutter, stitcher, folder, etc?
   •  Cutting systems tend to have the easiest implementation as most were already utilizing preset "cut block" information from PPF/CIP3. The folders and stitchers are limited with the ability to use preset information in many cases because the equipment would need servo driven motors to physically make adjustments. Other postpress equipment, such as diecutters, are focused more on time and job costing collection at present.
2.  How does the operator enter in job costing data? directly through the machine? via a terminal?

Implementation

1. If in a mixed vendor situation, then at what stage of JDF implementation are you with vendor _____?
   • A product compatibility matrix is available here from CIP4 but the discussion should still occur to corraborate the agreement level between all vendors involved.
2. Can you provide specific reference accounts that have implemented this exact workflow?
3. Would the reference accounts welcome a site visit/plant tour?
4. If implementation problems occur, who are the contacts at each vendor to resolve the situation – both sales and technical channels?