16 Q U I C K P R I N T I N G / J u l y 2 0 1 4
w w w. M y P R I N T R e s o u r c e . c o m
Although some of the specific functions
of an MIS have changed and evolved over
the years, its essential goal is to not only
keep tabs on all aspects of the print busi-
ness, as well as facilitate estimating and
job tracking but, if utilized effectively,
also tell shops where they can increase
productivity, lower costs, and boost prof-
itability. An MIS also has to be flexible
enough to accommodate new kinds of
businesses a shop may be getting into—
digital printing, wide-format, etc.—as
well as handle all the myriad variables
that digital printing, be it large or small,
can present. A fully integrated MIS is the
"brain" of the company that oversees
estimating, production, billing, account-
ing—the whole shebang. Still, the signs
of an underutilized MIS include keeping
all these different aspects of the business
siloed, or separate from each other, and
relying on other management tools—like
Managing Information Can Boost Productivity
and Profits...If Used as Directed By Richard Romano
O
nce upon a time, it was not uncommon for
a printing company's "management informa-
tion system" to simply be the information car-
ried around in the owner's head. "Job tracking
software" could be note cards push-pinned to a
corkboard. This hasn't been generally true in a very long
time—although even today is not completely unheard of—but for an
industry that has been changing as rapidly as the printing industry
has for the past 20 or more years, digital approaches to a management
information system (MIS) are increasingly desirable, if not necessary.
Whether your company is a niche
printing operation or a global leader,
EFI offers a print MIS or ERP solution—
such as Pace of PrintSmith Sign—that
can help your organization achieve
outstanding results.
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