A production planning module can help optimize resource utilization to reduce process bottlenecks, minimize material waste, and lead to quicker turnaround times on print jobs. These modules pick up where a work order system leaves off–in the sense that they are utilized to translate work order instructions into the overall scheduling of equipment and labor.

Work order management systems generally include status tracking capabilities to define how far along in the printing process each order is. A typical printing work order will define the information needed to process each order, including: quantity needed, material requirements (ink, paper, binding), content, packaging, and layout. Work order management modules provide the baseline capabilities to capture and communicate order instructions. The software industry offers a variety of modules designed to accelerate the ability of printers to reduce costs and improve operations. Fundamentally, printers need to effectively manage materials, order communication, equipment scheduling and maintenance, and production cost tracking to thrive.

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