Taking lean thinking to MIS reports ProPrint

Added by Sharon Mordey on March, 23, 2011

Optimus has the solution for users big and small, from its new dash MIS aimed at the digital world to its ever-popular Optimus 2020 system. Both products bring lean principles to printers, reports Proprint in its March PrintEx11 and VIIE Preview.

Optimus is looking forward to showcasing Optimus dash at PrintEx11 in May. Optimus dash is the new management information system (MIS) designed specifically to cater for all digital sectors.

Building upon 29 years’ experience of designing and developing management information systems, Optimus dash incorporates the fundamental principles of an MIS while meeting the demands of a changing industry. Printers’ customers are demanding products that are produced in a faster timeframe, in shorter quantities, with personalised content and at a lower cost. Optimus, with its renowned lean manufacturing emphasis, has ensured that the focus of Optimus dash remains on eliminating waste, whether a keystroke or an unnecessary process that print buyers will not pay for. Optimus dash maximises the profitability in each transaction by taking out unnecessary steps.

Optimus dash incorporates the unique ‘Optimus Calc’, which drives the Sales Enquiry and Quotation Manager. This nsures that dash can produce quotations and manage the job from quotation to invoicing regardless of the product size, making it the MIS for wide-format, screen, point-of-sale, non-print processes and more. Any substrate, any process and any material – if you can produce it, Optimus dash can manage it

The innovative Outwork Manager within Optimus dash enables fast and easy communication with outwork suppliers and full tracking of responses within the dash system. Since its launch last year at Ipex 2010, Optimus is already seeing many customers reaping the benefits of using Optimus dash. This includes ImageData Group UK, which has embraced Optimus dash throughout the company. Image Data managing director David Danforth says: “We are a full service provider but many MIS companies concentrate on traditional litho processes. We do print litho but we also have large and small-format digital, screen printing, variable-data solutions, online ordering, design services and outsourcing of nonprinted items. We need a robust system that copes with all we are today and all we want to be in the future. Optimus simply understood our objectives.”

Danforth has been amazed by the software’s capability: “It offers pretty much all the basic reporting and functionality you would expect from a good MIS but we really love the fact that it fully integrates with our existing online ordering systems through its E-Commerce module. It also gives the group high levels of automation in managing the print management process with outsourced suppliers through its Outwork Manager function".

“Reporting will be much easier too with extensive use of Excel as a data driver as well as the software’s very graphical displays of key performance indicators. In particular, the Optimus Calc engine seems to be so flexible it will be able to cater for processes that we had previously been unable to automate,” adds Danforth.

At PrintEx11, Optimus will also be showing Optimus 2020, which is in use in 23 countries and eight different languages and has been developed over the past 29 years. For the more traditional Estimating
model, Optimus 2020 is the ideal solution and continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of the worldwide customer base. Customers include Colorpak, based in Victoria and NSW, which has used Optimus for many years. Colorpak has recently confirmed the implementation of Optimus throughout its new sites in Australia and New Zealand.

Colorpak IT manager Paul Grobler says: “Optimus was our first choice and has been part of our business for many years. The levels of functionality within Optimus 2020 suit the Colorpak group’s growing needs. Equally, Optimus’ policy of constant development means that Optimus 2020 will continue to evolve in order to keep pace with the market demands that we face. This coupled with our long-standing relationship with Optimus means we do not need to look elsewhere.”

Optimus group managing director Nicola Bisset says: “With the launch of Optimus dash at Ipex 2010 to complement the existing Optimus 2020 MIS system, Optimus is now in the unique position of being able to supply management information systems to all sectors of the printing industry.”

Optimus has also been actively involved in promoting Lean Manufacturing to the print industry and continues to work closely with Vision in Print, a UK organisation that promotes lean principles. The Optimus Vision module is the culmination of this relationship and gives management a visual display of the KPIs within their business. The motto ‘if you don’t measure, how can you monitor and improve’ is the lean principle. Optimus has embraced lean philosophy in its own business when developing new software. It is always looking at ways to reduce waste with the understanding that ‘waste’ can come in many guises, whether too many processes, duplications or mouse clicks. Whether one user or 100-plus users,

Optimus has the MIS to help you manage your business!

For other press articles from Proprint please visit their website at www.Proprint.com.au