Abstract: A system for scoring an assessment may include a computing device having an image capture device and an image recognition engine, and a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may have one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to capture an image of a completed assessment, cause the computing device to, for each question, parse the image to identify the question and the handwritten response, determine a correct answer to the question, perform an image recognition analysis on the assessment to determine a confidence value, determine a question score for the question based on the determined confidence value and a point value associated with the correct answer, and determine a total score for the assessment. The computer-readable storage medium may have one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to assign the total score to the student, and generate a report.

Abstract: A print job processing system determines a set of job size thresholds for a set of print jobs received over a period of time by a print shop. The print shop includes multiple cells. The system orders the job size thresholds from lowest to highest, assigns the lowest job size threshold to a first one of the cells, assigns the highest job size threshold to a second one of the cells, and assigns each of the remaining thresholds to the remaining cells so that each of the cells has an assigned threshold. Then, when the system receives a print job, it determines a size for the received print job, identifies which of the cells has an assigned job size threshold that corresponds to the size of the received print job, and routes the received print job to the identified cell. The identified cell may then process the received print job.

Abstract: A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue.

Abstract: A method of determining a configuration of production devices in a print production environment may include receiving, by a computing device, one or more production environment characteristics associated with a print production environment, receiving job processing information, identifying, by the computing device, a performance measure, receiving a desired value associated with the identified performance measure, receiving one or more parameters associated with a random search algorithm, and performing, by the computing device, the random search algorithm based on at least the received job processing information and the received parameters to determine a configuration of production devices in the print production environment that satisfies the desired value associated with the performance measure.

Abstract: A method of designing a cell in a print production environment may include identifying one or more print jobs, grouping the one or more print jobs into one or more job groups, identifying a job group to assign to a cell, identifying a print job, determining a process, determining a job volume, and determining whether the cell includes a production device capable of performing the determined process. The method may include, in response to the cell not including a production device capable of performing the determined process, determining a production device capable of performing the determined process, determining a capacity, and in response to determining that adding the determined production device to the cell will not increase a number of production devices in the cell to a value that exceeds a threshold value, adding the determined production device to the cell, and determining a recalculated capacity.

Abstract: A print job processing system determines a set of job size thresholds for a set of print jobs received over a period of time by a print shop. The print shop includes multiple cells. The system orders the job size thresholds from lowest to highest, assigns the lowest job size threshold to a first one of the cells, assigns the highest job size threshold to a second one of the cells, and assigns each of the remaining thresholds to the remaining cells so that each of the cells has an assigned threshold. Then, when the system receives a print job, it determines a size for the received print job, identifies which of the cells has an assigned job size threshold that corresponds to the size of the received print job, and routes the received print job to the identified cell. The identified cell may then process the received print job.

Abstract: Methods and systems of balancing job assignments to a plurality of machines are disclosed. A computing device receives multiple jobs each having a job size and determines a job order for the jobs based on each job's job size. A machine order is determined for a plurality of machines based on a setup time and a processing rate associated with each machine. The computing device assigns one or more jobs to each machine based on the job order and the machine order such that a maximum total processing time for the machines is minimized. A total processing time for each machine is determined based on the number of jobs and the cumulative job size of the jobs assigned to the machine, and the setup time and the processing time associated with the machine. The maximum total processing time is the largest of the total processing times for the machines.

Abstract: A method and system for managing print shop workflow determines whether variations in print shop workflow may be reduced by shifting one or more customers' scheduled orders to different time periods. By shifting an order from one time period to another, the system may reduce variability in demand levels over time, thus helping increase overall system efficiency. To do this, one or more customers are selected as candidates for print shop order rescheduling. The system identifies customer orders that, if moved to other time periods, will most reduce demand level variations. A user may accept the system's recommendations, or the system may present a user with several alternative load leveling options for selection. The system may then cause the orders to be printed based on the load leveling proposal and the user's selection.

Abstract: A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of stations in a cell of a job shop 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 information corresponding to a workflow of a cell in a job shop. The information may include a plurality of print-related functions performable by the cell and an amount of work associated with one or more pairs of print-related functions. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of stations in the cell, determining a target distance between one or more pairs of stations, generating a visual depiction of the identified stations, automatically applying the visual depiction to a floor plan, and displaying the visual depiction as applied to the floor plan to a user.

Abstract: A method and system for managing print shop workflow determines whether variations in print shop workflow may be reduced by shifting one or more customers' scheduled orders to different time periods. By shifting an order from one time period to another, the system may reduce variability in demand levels over time, thus helping increase overall system efficiency. To do this, one or more customers are selected as candidates for print shop order rescheduling. The system identifies customer orders that, if moved to other time periods, will most reduce demand level variations. A user may accept the system's recommendations, or the system may present a user with several alternative load leveling options for selection. The system may then cause the orders to be printed based on the load leveling proposal and the user's selection.

Abstract: Methods and systems of balancing job assignments to a plurality of machines are disclosed. A computing device receives multiple jobs each having a job size and determines a job order for the jobs based on each job's job size. A machine order is determined for a plurality of machines based on a setup time and a processing rate associated with each machine. The computing device assigns one or more jobs to each machine based on the job order and the machine order such that a maximum total processing time for the machines is minimized. A total processing time for each machine is determined based on the number of jobs and the cumulative job size of the jobs assigned to the machine, and the setup time and the processing time associated with the machine. The maximum total processing time is the largest of the total processing times for the machines.

Abstract: A system for designing cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable medium in communication with the computing device, where the computer-readable medium comprises one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of print jobs, comprising one or more functions, where the print jobs are associated with the document production environment, generating a representation for each unique print job and creating one or more workflows. The computer-readable storage medium may also include one or more programming instructions for assigning the workflow to one of a plurality of cells, where each cell may include one or more devices, determining whether one or more of the cells is complex, and splitting at least one workflow within a complex cell.

Abstract: A system for designing cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of jobs associated with the document production environment. Each job may include one or more functions. The computer-readable medium may include one or more programming instructions for generating a representation for each unique job, creating one or more workflows, assigning the workflow to one of a plurality of cells, determining whether one or more of the cells is complex, and splitting at least one workflow within a complex cell. Each cell may include one or more devices.

Abstract: A system for determining a location of stations in a cell of a job shop 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 information corresponding to a workflow of a cell in a job shop. The information may include a plurality of print-related functions performable by the cell and an amount of work associated with one or more pairs of print-related functions. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of stations in the cell, determining a target distance between one or more pairs of stations, generating a visual depiction of the identified stations, automatically applying the visual depiction to a floor plan, and displaying the visual depiction as applied to the floor plan to a user.

Abstract: A system for designing cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable medium in communication with the computing device, where the computer-readable medium comprises one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of print jobs, comprising one or more functions, where the print jobs are associated with the document production environment, generating a representation for each unique print job and creating one or more workflows. The computer-readable storage medium may also include one or more programming instructions for assigning the workflow to one of a plurality of cells, where each cell may include one or more devices, determining whether one or more of the cells is complex, and splitting at least one workflow within a complex cell.

Abstract: A system for designing cells in a document production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable medium may include one or more programming instructions for identifying a plurality of jobs associated with the document production environment. Each job may include one or more functions. The computer-readable medium may include one or more programming instructions for generating a representation for each unique job, creating one or more workflows, assigning the workflow to one of a plurality of cells, determining whether one or more of the cells is complex, and splitting at least one workflow within a complex cell. Each cell may include one or more devices.