JDF Workflow
By implementing a JDF workflow we've taken an important step toward process automation by using an industry-approved specification that can improve process efficiency by increasing throughput, reducing costs, creating better reports and analysis, minimizing manual intervention and redundant work, and providing faster and more accurate billing.
JDF is a HTML file format that serves as a single source of real-time job information. JDF job data travels and accumulates from job initiation through to distribution and invoicing. JDF supports a bi-directional workflow, meaning that our MIS, or command center, can talk to our equipment throughout the production process, and the equipment can talk back to us.
The compelling reason for choosing a JDF workflow lies in its ability to provide a common language that is vendor-neutral, which allows for an open system solution, providing greater flexibility when choosing the best products for your workflow. Our JDF integrated workflow, though currently only partially implemented, has the potential to provide significant gains in our effort to reduce costs and production cycle time, as well as increase flexibility to better meet our customer's requirement. Custom Printers is the only printer in West Michigan currently with a JDF workflow. A partial JDF workflow is what is most common in the industry right now. We are in a multi-phase process of connecting "islands of automation" together, one at a time, working toward a goal of total process automation that will ultimately result in improved turn-around times.
