Automation Solutions Network Formalizes Organization and Names Committee Members

Pittsburgh, PA, April 26, 2010 - The Automation Solutions Network (previously the JDF User Group) comes to agreement to formalize its organization and name the committee members. The change reflects the various interest areas within membership; commercial, web, digital, and in-house printers using JDF-enabled automation to boost profitability as well as vendors and technologist that help provide the solutions printers demand.  “The Automation Solutions Network isn’t just for one slice of the printing industry”, says, Ray Hartman,  “while there are some issues unique to, say web printing, most printers find they share similar experiences when managing automation projects at their companies. Ultimately, the Automation Solutions Network is discovering what it means to be a printer in the 21st century, and the new structure will help us keep the balance necessary to represent the diverse interests within the Automation Solutions Network membership.”
The positions on the Automation Solutions Network Steering Committee, and the representatives filling those positions are:

Steering Committee Chair: Mark Bohan, Vice President, Technology and Research, Printing Industries of America

Vice Chair: Ray Hartman, Independent Consultant

Membership & Marketing Officer: Mark Wilton, President, Wilton & Partners Consulting, Inc.

Steering Committee Members:

• Technology Representative: Brandon Iskey, Computational Research Scientist, Printing Industries of America
• Printer Representative (Digital Printing): Dave Zamorski, Chief Operating Officer, Associate Graphic Services
• Printer Representative (General Commercial): Rick Riegger, Color Control Manager, Japs-Olson Company
  
• Printer Representative (In-house Printing): Tom Coker, Senior Manager of Premedia, Communicorp, Inc
• Printer Representative (Web Printing): Christy Miners, Director of Prepress and Technology, Democrat Printing & Lithographing Co
• CIP4 Liaison: Jim Harvey, Executive Director, CIP4 Organization

The Automation Solutions Network a joint partnership between Printing Industries of America & CIP4 was established as an open forum for users and vendors to discuss their automation issues and experiences, with a solutions-oriented focus. The Automation Solutions Network has established itself as the premiere event to exchange ideas and solutions for JDF workflows. It focuses on the development and practical implementation of JDF-enabled systems and cross-vendor implementations. The group welcomes a wide range of users of JDF-enabled systems as well as the suppliers of those systems.

The Automation Solutions Network meetings allow printers to exchange and share ideas with their peers and vendor members. This rare opportunity to communicate with vendors in a private setting benefits the entire printing community.

The next Automation Solutions Network meeting is being hosted by Ampersand Printing, and the meeting will be held June 15-16, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario.

The group welcomes a wide range of users of automation systems as well as the suppliers of those systems. All interested parties are welcome to become members. To become a member and register for the next meeting, please visit www.printing.org/automation, call 412-259-1706, or email automation@printing.org.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) at Printing Industries (link)

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About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

About CIP4: CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization’s website: www.cip4.org.  “CIP4” and “JDF” are registered trademarks of the CIP4 Organization.

About JDF: The Job Definition Format (JDF) is the industry specification designed to facilitate process automation and the integration of different applications and systems in and around the graphic arts industry. JDF also enables the integration of business management and job planning applications into the production workflow. JDF is based on the W3C’s Extensible Markup Language (XML), ensuring maximum interoperability between different platforms and ready interaction with Internet systems. More information is available at http://www.cip4.org.