Abstract: Methods and systems of processing print jobs are disclosed. A feasible route for processing each of a plurality of jobs is determined. For each feasible route, the time to process the job via the feasible route is determined. Each job is assigned to a first feasible route. A first objective function value is determined using a time to process each job assigned to each autonomous cell. A job is selected. A second feasible route is selected for the selected job. A second objective function value is determined by substituting the second feasible route for the first feasible route for the selected job. If the first value plus a threshold exceeds the second value, the second value replaces the first value, and the second feasible route replaces the first feasible route. Selection and substitution are repeated for each job. The jobs are then processed.

Abstract: A system for determining a cause of lateness of a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a late print job, identifying a plurality of document production stations that processed at least a portion of the late print job, determining an associated contribution value representing a contribution of the document production station to the lateness, determining sources of the lateness, displaying a first visual depiction that visually depicts a measure of a contribution of each of the identified document production stations to a collective lateness of the print shop, receiving a user selection of one of the document production stations and a time period, and displaying a second visual depiction of one or more print jobs processed by the document production station during the time period.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assigning a plurality of print jobs in a transaction printing environment are disclosed. A print job workflow management system receives a plurality of print jobs each having a job size and selects a first threshold based on at least the job sizes for the plurality of print jobs. A print job is assigned to a first autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is greater than the first threshold. The print job is assigned to a second autonomous cell if the job size for the print job is less than a second threshold. Otherwise, the print job is assigned to a third autonomous cell.

Abstract: A system for determining price models of a print market port including a processor and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with said processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions for: partitioning a job dataset into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of categories having a pricing model; determining one or more factors within the job dataset that influence a price of each job; developing an input/output model for each job in the job dataset that influences the price of the job; performing an iteration to compute a prediction error for each job in the job dataset that influences the price of the job; removing one or more jobs from a subsequent iteration that include prediction errors that exceed a prediction error threshold; and performing a plurality of iterations on remaining jobs until a predetermined average error prediction is reached.

Abstract: There is provided a system for a print production facility, with print job processing departments, in which a wait time interval is determined for each recorded instance in which an output, from a set of multiple outputs, is delivered from a first one of the print job processing departments to a second one of the print job processing departments. A statistical metric value, representative of a wait time interval for the set of multiple outputs, is computed, and a workflow relationship between the print job processing departments may be altered when a total number of recorded instances and/or the statistical metric value exceed given references.

Abstract: A system for forecasting an inventory level for a consumable in a print production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a demand distribution for a print product resource consumable, identifying a first seasonal period in the demand distribution, creating a seasonally adjusted demand distribution, identifying a second seasonal period in the seasonally adjusted demand distribution, creating an updated seasonally adjusted demand distribution, using a forecasting model to automatically forecast a predicted future demand value for the consumable, updating the predicted future demand value using, determining whether additional inventory is needed based on at least the updated predicted future demand value, and in response to a need for additional inventory, generating an order for the print product resource consumable.

Abstract: A system for processing a print job in a print production environment may include a plurality of print production devices in a production line, a computing device in communication with the one or more print production devices and a computer readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a processing rate and a buffer size for a first upstream print production device in the production line, and determining an effect on a second upstream print production device in the production line if a downstream print production device associated with a downstream function exhibits a delay condition. The computer readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for performing a modification to the production line such that implementation of the modification reduces the effect.

Abstract: A system for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor and comprises one or more programming instructions for: electronically receiving a campaign specification data structure including at least one job specification; operatively selecting a plurality of vendors from a database. Each of the selected vendors is capable of performing a job as operatively specified by the at least one job specification of the campaign specification data structure. The computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor and also includes one or more programming instructions for generating a plurality of environmental impact assessments corresponding to the campaign specification data structure. Each of the plurality of environmental impact assessments is operatively associated with one of the selected capable vendors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forecasting print demand are disclosed. Print demand data is collected and stored for each print job processed during a selected time interval, and processed with a computer implemented service manager to obtain a first demand series with multiple demand components and a second demand series with one demand component. Each of the multiple demand components is less than, and the one demand component is greater than, a selected variability level. The service manager is adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the multiple demand components, and (2) use a neural network to generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component. The neural network includes multiple neurons optimally weighted with respect to print-related demand data collected over selected time intervals. The number of neurons is optimized to improve forecasting accuracy and re-optimized after a selected time interval.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a multi-year variable priced outsourcing contract based on a long term demand forecast utilizing a diffusion model. Historical data comprising print requirements associated with a business process can be determined. The Bass diffusion model can be developed from such historical data in order to forecast a future print demand by estimating a number of customers migrated to an electronic presentment process. A capacity planning approach can be invoked to determine a capacity requirement that matches a projected estimate of the future print demand based on the diffusion model when the outsourcing contract is being developed. An outsourced operation cost can then be developed utilizing the capacity requirement and incorporated into the outsourcing contract. Such an approach can lead to a more optimal contract and therefore improve competitiveness of a vendor associated with such contract.

Abstract: A machine-implemented process determines web press printing capabilities and costs of different printing organizations using a processor. The printing capabilities comprise a number of printing units and a number of supply roll stands supplying continuous print media to the printing units. A printing request is received from a print customer through a graphic user interface. The printing request is evaluated using the processor to determine printing request requirements. A comparator compares the printing request requirements with the printing capabilities and costs to identify capable printing organizations of the different printing organizations that have abilities to process the printing request. The processor calculates different print choices and costs based on the printing capabilities and costs of the capable printing organizations and outputs the different print choices and costs to the print customer through the graphic user interface.

Abstract: A computer implemented system for segmenting data collected from a document production environment is provided. The system includes determining, with a computer implemented data processing platform, that a set of document production related data should be represented as a non-normal distribution. A first test is performed and it is determined that the non-normal distribution should not be analyzed pursuant to a first analytic category. A second test is performed and when it is determined that the non-normal distribution should be analyzed pursuant to a second analytic category, an output, indicating that the non-normal distribution should be analyzed pursuant to the second analytic category is provided.

Abstract: The present application a new and improved system and method of enhanced Lean Document Production (LDP), which applies cellular manufacturing to document printing operations. The LDP process incorporates process friendly cells and, a push model to order to improve efficiency, reduce work in progress and smooth out the “frictions” in production environments. The current application presents an earliest-completion-time strategy for assigning jobs to cells and a dynamic-priority-based-batch-scheduling algorithm.

Abstract: A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator may be associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, where the cell may be associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators including one or more cell operators who each possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell.

Abstract: A system of assigning operators to cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a first plurality of cell operators, where each cell operator is associated with one or more skills, identifying a cell to be staffed, wherein the cell is associated with one or more functions, identifying, from the first plurality of cell operators, a subset of cell operators comprising a group of cell operators who collectively possess the skills necessary to perform the one or more functions associated with the cell, selecting, from the subset, a second plurality of cell operators based on at least one relationship amongst the second plurality of cell operators, and assigning the second plurality of cell operators to the cell.

Abstract: A system for determining batch sizes for a print job may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for receiving a print job having a job size, receiving speed information for each of a plurality of document production devices in a production line, identifying a plurality of batches associated with the print job, performing a discrete event simulation to model a makespan for the print job in processing each of the plurality of batches on the plurality of document production devices using the speed information and repeating the identifying and performing until a plurality of final batches is determined, each having a unique final batch size.

Abstract: A mail processing system in which an estimated group of mail pieces is sorted in a mailroom area and delivered to a preset number of mailboxes is provided. The mail processing system includes a memory for storing information related to sorting and delivery and a processor that uses the sorting and delivery related information to determine, (i) an amount of time required to sort the estimated group of mail pieces, and (ii) an amount of time required to deliver the estimated group of mail pieces to the mail boxes. Operation of the mailroom may be evaluated by comparing a sum of the amount of time required to sort the estimated group of mail pieces and the amount of time required to deliver the estimated group of mail pieces to the preset number of mail boxes with an amount of time available for both sorting the estimated group of mail pieces and delivering the mail pieces to the preset number of mail boxes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining print capacity are disclosed. A maximum job speed for a document processing device and information pertaining to a plurality of jobs performed by the document processing device may be received. The information may include a job speed and a job size for each job. Sets of first and second jobs may be identified from the plurality of jobs. Each first job may have a job speed greater than a percentage of the maximum job speed. Each second job may have a job speed less than the percentage of the maximum job speed. A job size threshold may be determined based on the job sizes for the first and second jobs. In response to such determination, a linear function based on the one or more second jobs may be obtained. The linear function may be a function of job speed based on job size.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing performance of resources in a production environment are disclosed. Timing information for a plurality of print jobs may be received at a resource characterization system from one or more resources. A service time distribution may be determined based on the timing information. Resource performance for the one or more resources may be characterized based on the service time distribution using a queuing model. One or more performance characteristics may be provided for the one or more resources based on the characterized resource performance.

Abstract: A print demand forecasting system is provided for use with a print production system in which print demand data is collected for each print job processed during a selected time interval. The print demand data is processed with a computer implemented service manager to obtain a first demand series with two or more demand components and a second demand series with one demand component. Each one of the two or more demand components is less than a selected variability level and the one demand component is greater than the selected variability level. The computer implemented service manager is adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the two or more demand components, and (2) generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component if convergent forecasting results are obtainable for the second demand series.