Chicago - Technique MIS, a leading provider of modular ERP / MIS software solutions to the printing industry, today announces that Midstates Inc. Print & Media Solutions has implemented its flagship product, Technique MIS. Based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Midstates has been in business for over 30 years and remains a family owned business. They have evolved from a quick printer in the 80's, to a printer/mailer in the 90's, to a robust communications and cross-media solutions company in the 21st century. Its in-house capabilities and ability to serve its customers are endless: commercial print, quick print, wide format, magazines, catalogs, mailing, fulfillment, signs, apparel, websites, purls and emails, and more. Midstates ownership listens carefully to its customers' needs and responds with solutions, services and products.

A major challenge faced by Midstates was managing multiple product lines, each with different workflows. For example, they may be printing an order of business cards with a production time of 15 minutes, and across the plant be running a multi-version publication with a run length of 500,000, with many hours of press time. Clearly both jobs cannot be managed the same way. In order to solve the challenge, Midstates selected Technique MIS and shop floor data capture. Over the last 18 months the entire Technique system has been fully implemented. Now orders are taken via the web or CSRs, and the entire lifecycle of the order including real-time shop floor data capture is then managed by the Technique system.

"The instant visibility provided to Midstates staff and management enables us to interact with our customers in ways we have never been able to do previously. We never have to say 'we'll get back to you' as everyone here now knows instantly what is happening to any job," states Justin Feickert, Director of Sales and Marketing for Midstates.

"We also see major internal production efficiencies," adds Matt Feickert, Production Director for Midstates. "Controlling paper waste and overages has been a huge benefit. Plus, with some of our longer run work, understanding press performance in real-time lets me manage the plant proactively, rather than firefighting after the fact."

"Midstates is a great example of what can be achieved by a well managed and innovative communications business. Midstates management is constantly looking for ways to serve its customers even better and we are working with them right now on some new features that will move the customer service to even higher levels," states Chris Wood, President of Technique.