Communicorp to Host Next Automation Solutions Network Meeting
PITTSBURGH—January 19, 2010—The Automation Solutions Network, an open forum established for users and vendors to discuss their automation issues and experiences with a business solutions-oriented focus (formerly JDF User Group), will hold its next meeting at Communicorp Inc. in Columbus, GA on March 30-31, 2010.
Some highlights of the upcoming event include a tour of Communicorp's facility, a look at the integration from the CSR through the entire production process utilizing offset and digital presses, and a 90-minute discussion led by Dave Zamorski of Associates Graphic Services. Dave will discuss his 2008 CIPPI award-winning workflow system, which looks at minimizing and eliminating many steps in both content delivery and finishing. Other topics to be discussed include automated scheduling and the connection between integration and certification.
In addition, each attendee will receive a free copy of a recent white paper written by Printing Industries of America's Center for Technology and Research on how to select an MIS.
Communicorp Inc. is a premier full-service provider of print and marketing services. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. The company provides solutions in creative development, commercial printing, digital printing, merchandise, fulfillment, digital photography, giclée prints, digital asset management, and Web-enabled commerce to numerous Fortune 500 companies and others, both in the United States and abroad. The company has embraced automation to increase productivity, quality, and response time. Meeting attendees will learn how Communicorp Inc. achieved improvements based on the continual improvement and implementation of automation.
The Automation Solutions Network meetings allow printers to exchange and share challenges and solutions with their peers and vendor members. This rare opportunity to communicate with vendors in a private setting benefits the entire printing community.
"The Automation Solutions Network enables us to find the tools and vendors that make process automation work on the plant floor," says member Christy Miners, Director of Prepress Technology, Democrat Printing. "It also helps put the information into 'Dollars and Sense' numbers to make it work for the accountants."
The network welcomes a wide range of users and suppliers of automation systems. All interested parties are welcome to join. To become a member and register for the meeting at Communicorp Inc., please visit www.printing.org/automation, call +1 412-259-1706, or email automation@printing.org.
The next meeting will be held in June at CIPPI award recipient Ampersand Printing's facility in Toronto. Information on this meeting will be posted on www.printing.org/automation as it becomes available.
About Printing Industries of America
Printing Industries of America is the world's largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.
About CIP4
CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization's website: www.cip4.org. "CIP4" and "JDF" are registered trademarks of the CIP4 Organization.
