VANCOUVER, British Columbia--May 14, 2003-- Creo Inc. announces that the Prism Group of Companies, - includes Prism USA - a leading supplier of integrated MIS software, is the newest partner in Networked Graphic Production(TM). This strategic initiative delivers modular solutions through Creo, Prism and other leading vendors' products to create a JDF-based print production environment for unprecedented control, efficiency, and visibility into the entire print production process-from idea to delivery. The Networked Graphic Production Partner Program brings together the industry's leading companies that share the common goal of developing and delivering high-value, integrated solutions to printers, trade shops and their print buyers. By joining this initiative, the Networked Graphic Production Partners leverage combined expertise to deliver JDF-based solutions that help customers differentiate themselves and become more efficient and more profitable at every step in the graphic production process. "We welcome Prism into Networked Graphic Production," says Larry Letteney, president, Creo Americas, at the opening day of the Prism User Conference in Falmouth, MA. "Prism joins a network of leading industry partners that is dedicated to delivering integrated solutions that solve real business challenges and deliver true business value to our customers and their clients." "This new relationship will benefit Prism customers as we are able to seamlessly integrate with an entire network of integrated solutions," says Chris Johnson, group managing director, Prism. "Our MIS customers will directly benefit from this partnership as we expand the reach of their Prism systems into a new level of connectivity with industry-leading solutions. This seamless integration across production and business systems truly delivers an integrated platform to address the core business challenges facing printers today." Through Networked Graphic Production, partner companies and their customers gain access to a complete range of integrated solutions that span the entire graphic production process including creative workflow, production planning, business workflow, prepress, press and postpress. Prism joins these Networked Graphic Production Partners: Adobe Systems Incorporated, KBA, Komori America Corporation, Printcafe Software, Inc., and Xerox Corporation. Generating Business Value for Printers Prism connects to Networked Graphic Production through Prism WIN, its market-leading management information system (MIS) that is used for estimating, job costing, job planning, inventory, shop floor management, time tracking, ecommerce solutions, accounting and reporting. It allows for tighter control of key elements within a print organization and integrates diverse information to build a clear overview of the complete operation. Accessing Prepress Data By using JDF (Job Definition Format), Prism WIN MIS accesses prepress production data from Creo systems through Creo Synapse® Link software. This MIS integration software provides automatic, immediate access to production data to allow printers to accurately record and communicate up-to-the-minute data, such as prepress workflow events, material usage, machine time, and content alterations, into the Prism WIN MIS. Having access to this production data gives printers better visibility and control over their costing procedures and inventory management. It can ultimately improve profitability as printers are able to track and recover alteration costs, identify costly processes, and isolate low-margin print jobs. Synapse Link software also comes with a set of standard reports that show summaries or detailed views of job-specific production data, including chargeable and non-chargeable changes, machine time and material usage. This gives the user tremendous flexibility to view, print or export this data at any time. Time-consuming production steps such as scheduling, inventory and job costing can be automated using this information with the business analysis tools in the MIS system. Trends and inefficiencies can be identified and business decision-making improved a new level of visibility into the costs, material and time associated with prepress activities. This integration will permit printers to understand their businesses better, become more profitable and more responsive to customer demands. Streamline Production Data Transfer Prism WIN MIS also connects with Creo systems through production planning software, Creo UpFront®. This software streamlines and automates the planning stage of the print production process. UpFront extracts job description data directly from Prism WIN via JDF, eliminating manual processes, retyping of data, and guesswork resulting in fewer errors downstream in the production workflow. CSRs can then access decades of hard-to-find planning experience in the form of reusable layouts, check these layouts against a comprehensive database of press and finishing equipment capabilities, and print accurate and consistent job layout documents quickly and easily, saving time and reducing expensive errors. At the back-end, UpFront seamlessly integrates with Preps®, the world's leading digital imposition solution, and can send data to finishing, further streamlining the flow of data through production. Looking Ahead "We look forward to expanding integration between Creo systems and the Prism Enterprise management information system in the future," says Chris Johnson of Prism. "We have over 1,700 installations of Prism Enterprise at small to medium-sized printing companies. Like Networked Graphic Production, this system is based on an open architecture that allows an easy interface with external databases and products." Prism Enterprise MIS already connects with Creo UpFront production planning software. Demonstrating Integration Prism and Creo serve many of the same customers in the UK, USA, and Australia. The integration between Prism WIN MIS and Creo Synapse Link software will be demonstrated at some of these sites later this year. Networked Graphic Production extends beyond Creo solutions by integrating many different vendor solutions including MIS, presses, finishing equipment, eCommerce systems, job planning software, and digital printing equipment. Industry leaders are joining Networked Graphic Production to deliver integrated solutions that deliver value to customers around the globe. For a complete list of Networked Graphic Production Partners, visit www.creo.com/ngppartners.