Imagine the future of a digital workflow system or what will happen?
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He has been dealing with the “Printed Digital Workflow” for many years and has not been able to clarify it for a long time. Some students have asked what should be learned in the course of digital workflow. It is urgent for enterprises to have the talents of digital workflow. Every time I explain or think, I often feel that I can't give a clear and clear definition. Here, I would like to mention it again. After the trade-off, the author will share the digital work of printing from four aspects: “Management is the fundamental concept of digital workflow”, “Urban transportation network-like management structure system”, “Application status of digital workflow”, and “Future-oriented process system”. The relevant information of the process, this issue will introduce the contents of the first two aspects for readers.
Management is the fundamental concept of digital workflow
The core task of the Printed Digital Workflow System (DWS) is to establish direct, accessible data exchange and production control between modules in the production chain. The introduction of the digitization workflow in the printing industry is after the emergence of CTP technology. CTP replaces the traditional two working steps of recording information and printing on the film, aiming to improve the efficiency of printing products and reduce production costs. The purpose of the digital workflow is to avoid the CTP working state, because the improper handling of certain details makes its economy and ease of use greatly reduced. Therefore, at the beginning of the process, the standardization of PDF files and the Preflight function are particularly eye-catching. With the deep application of the process system, the calculation function of the ink area of CIP3 further embodies the remarkable characteristics of it different from other systems or technologies, that is, the use of data integration to realize the working mode of various aspects of printing processing. Digital workflows transfer control data and process content using the server/client platform architecture. At the time, it was not just about introducing a new form of technology to the industry, but more importantly, it brought about changes in the industry's work philosophy. Ideally, the relevant work requirements from pre-press to post-press work can be inserted into the process system modularly as long as they can be written as JDF files and can be understood by these work links. The type of process supported.
Therefore, the role of the printed digital workflow system in the enterprise depends on the staff's management-based philosophy and the smoothness of the coordination of the production process nodes on the process. The digital workflow is an example of the systematic management concept of the enterprise.
Urban transportation network-like management structure system
The digital workflow system is based on network-based data communication. Its structure is similar to that of a modern urban transportation network. It has a rigorous architecture and is equipped with relevant communication rules. At its core is the largest hub on the network, which is connected in a modular way to all aspects of the work.
Figure 1 is a complete reference model of the digital process system proposed by PRIMIR, the US printing market and information research organization. From this model, we can see the following four parts:
1. There are two core sub-function modules between the customer and the final production process, namely the business and information management module and the process management module.
2. The model implements a two-way data stream. The customer's data is collected by the external information exchange interface and then processed by the information management module. The task information and the content data are respectively transmitted down to the production process, and the various status information in the production and management links are fed back to each layer and finally to the client layer.
3. The external information exchange interface is a means for customers and suppliers to exchange relevant information.
4. There are three kinds of data transmitted in the digital workflow system: content information that needs to be processed, such as PDF documents; description of tasks or business data information, such as collected by the external information exchange interface, XML describes the stored data content, It can include business data such as quotation, production cycle, production planning, cost accounting, etc.; production data information extended from processing content and processing tasks, such as production based on JDF file storage after parsing based on task information, and production process Execution status information collected in the content.
The digital workflow system delivers the contents of the fourth part through the first three parts of the architecture, thus realizing the automation of the entire task production and control. The most ideal goal of this system is to send information to customers and directly control the production process, thereby reducing unnecessary human intervention to stabilize product quality and improve work efficiency.
In response to the topic of “Digital Workflow System in the Future”, in the last issue, we shared two parts: “Management is the fundamental concept of digital workflow” and “Urban transportation network-like structure system”. In this issue, we will focus on “Digital Workflow Application status and related content of the future-oriented process system.
Application status of digital workflow
The production process management module, business and information management module in the PRIMIR reference model is the core of the process. Both in terms of technology development and application, they are relatively mature. Usually, the part of the production process management module and the information management module is called a digital workflow system; the content of the business management part belongs to the ERP system. Many systems or companies, on the basis of proven technology, are moving toward fully automated production processes that reduce human intervention. From the current application situation of the Chinese printing market, the business data in the ERP system is directly converted into production data, or the task/execution status information/execution collected during the production process is transmitted to the ERP system for direct use. It is in the stage of further development and pending regulation. The external information exchange interface is the basis of printing network. The one-time description of customer information and work tasks, and the multi-faceted application after analysis are the core factors for the complete automation of the process system. Both the process developer and the international standard CIP4 development organization are still exploring and researching in this area.
With the promotion and application of digital printing technology, since 2011, large-scale process system developers, such as Heidelberg, Kodak, Agfa, Esko, etc., are in the multi-channel nonlinear working mode based on automatic judgment of rules. Develop automation support for your own products to upgrade single-channel operating modes in mainstream process systems. For example: Heidelberg and Agfa's Process Integration Manager (Integration Manager), Kodak's RBA core, and Esko's Automation Driver (Automation Engine). These functions, based on conditional judgment logic, enable further automation of business information to process production management.
The non-linear working mode is an important way to improve the intelligent process and reduce manual intervention after the emergence of digital printing mode and adapt to the increasing demand of network printing methods. Although the process system introduced after 2013 refers to the intelligent support function, the degree of application in domestic enterprises still depends on the degree of recognition and adaptation of the enterprise itself and customers.
Traditional process server systems are usually only used in an enterprise internal environment. The web printing approach has facilitated its support for public services. Therefore, in addition to building a dedicated server system for self-maintenance, there are currently solutions for hosting in the public Internet platform or network cloud, integrating the network printing system with the production process of the printing factory, and giving full play to the external information exchange interface. Information collection function. This portal-style customer demand interface works in tandem with network printing to solve the problem of data entering the factory directly. Orders and related data, through the network printing into the printing plant's information management system has been launched around 2013.
Future-oriented process system
What will the future digital printing workflow system look like? As a user, we have just adapted to the various working methods of the existing process system. When we have not had time to express our dissatisfaction with it, the CIP4 organization has collected various current Develop the situation and needs, and plan a new future and direction for it.
The XJDF file format is a new process information delivery format currently being planned by the CIP4 organization. Based on the original JDF format, the CIP4 organization is planning to introduce an improved XJDF format. XJDF removes the definition part of the original JDF format that does not conform to XML semantics. In essence, XJDF is an XML file, and its functional requirements are even simpler than XML. Based on this simple XML process digital execution environment, the requirements for server system configuration are reduced compared to the JDF file format, and the data display can be conveniently performed using a Web browser. With network orders, diversified prints, in-depth personalized product requirements, various equipment conditions and accessibility of the environment and automation process, as well as feedback and reception analysis of the process information data as the main target. XJDF, which is characterized by simplified XML, helps to reduce the difficulty of analyzing the information transmitted by different brands of various devices, is conducive to improving the compatibility of different devices and process systems, and making full use of the existing hardware and software resources of various printing manufacturers.
The process system for information exchange based on the original JDF format usually adopts a method of linear connection and sequential work of the work link. Therefore, usually before the task begins, we must select and determine the template in advance. This means that if the work task changes, the template must be reworked and everything is started from scratch. The XJDF format has been improved from the following aspects to accommodate more personalized production environments and production requirements.
(1) There is no inheritance relationship between nodes
For the production process, the original JDF uses the nodes with inheritance relationship to describe them in turn, and forms a large JDF file to be passed in the process. XJDF is different, it stores each node separately as an XJDF file, which facilitates the modification of work tasks and the automation of multi-purpose products and processes.
(2) For the product related data, a flat display description
Printed business data, especially for personalized products, is so demanding that it is difficult to use classification descriptions. Especially in the network environment, the dynamic definition of the business is even more so. Each of the X.D. requirement intents contains as much simplified description attributes as possible, thus avoiding the complex hierarchy of JDF as shown in a of Figure 2. Not only the description is clear, but also the logic is simple, it is easy to select and combine, and it is convenient to simplify the external information exchange interface and realize the networked business data collection. Figure 3 shows the planar display description data structure contained in the XJDF.
Personalized, short-cycle, multi-demand printing tasks are the driving factors for the further development of digital printing process systems. The support of XJDF and the popularization and application of network cloud technology have promoted the diversified and universal development of the service audience supported by the process system. The external information exchange interface in the process architecture can undertake functions similar to Internet portals. When the digital workflow system in the form of diversified printing services occupies a certain proportion in the popular application network system, most of the traditional printers will transform into printing e-commerce, under the powerful hub of the new generation process system, More users will be able to offer personalized services of different types, levels and combinations. This is also one of the most important forms of openness in the printing industry.