WhatTheyThink

Premium Commentary & Analysis

Smart Print Manufacturing Makes You Money

Smart Print Manufacturing (SPM) can help companies achieve operational excellence. This article explores how SPM enables workflow automation so businesses can create quality products and services by adding value throughout the supply chain.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

By Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee

If you are among the many companies charting a course toward operational excellence for your business, it may be time to consider adding Smart Print Manufacturing (SPM) to your plans. Smart Print Manufacturing provides a framework for moving toward workflow automation that helps you to create quality products and services by adding value throughout the supply chain.

In the Smart Print Manufacturing ecosystem, the outer ring (see Figure 1 below) identifies a variety of processes that can be applied to building your workflow automation. Every business should be looking at business intelligence dashboards and laying the groundwork to feed data from the print shop floor to dashboard systems. This may involve IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) connected devices and sensors, some of which are already embedded in your print and finishing equipment that create cyber-physical networks.


Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.
WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?
Sign In

About Keypoint Intelligence

Since 1961, the digital imaging industry has relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and market research to drive product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industry’s most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards. Clients have harnessed this knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational efficiency improvements. Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve with the industry by expanding its offerings and intimately understanding the transformations occurring in the digital printing and imaging sector.

Recent Articles from Keypoint Intelligence

10 Things PSPs Should Consider Before Adopting Robotics: What You Need to Know to Begin the Journey

10 Things PSPs Should Consider Before Adopting Robotics: What You Need to Know to Begin the Journey

Labor shortages, production bottlenecks, and growing workflow complexity are forcing print service providers to take a closer look at robotics and automation. In this article, Keypoint Intelligence examines where robotics can deliver the greatest operational impact, the challenges PSPs should prepare for, and the practical steps companies can take to build a more efficient and stable production environment. Read More

The Role of Label Printing in Today’s Landscape

The Role of Label Printing in Today’s Landscape

Label printing doesn’t feature prominently in discussions about the digital transformation or the future of the printed page. Even so, it is one of the most consistently active segments in the broader printing landscape. This article explores the evolving factors that make label printing worth a closer look. Read More

Fostering Connections with Improved Personalization

Fostering Connections with Improved Personalization

Personalized print is a tangible form of communication that can bridge the gap between a customer’s desire to be recognized and the often impersonal nature of digital-only content. This article explores the psychology of personalized print and why it’s such a powerful way for brands to connect with their audience. Read More

Robotics in Production: How Small Steps Can Make a Big Impact

Robotics in Production: How Small Steps Can Make a Big Impact

Modern businesses are struggling to accomplish more with less due to rising costs, an aging workforce, and ongoing labor challenges. Workflow automation is more important than ever, and robotic solutions can be an attractive way to automate. This article cites recent robotics survey findings to help determine how robots are being used today and how they might be deployed in the future.  Read More

Why Highly Targeted Communications Make Digital Print Essential to Modern Marketing

Why Highly Targeted Communications Make Digital Print Essential to Modern Marketing

In a world overwhelmed by digital noise and AI-generated content, print is standing out. It is building trust, creating impact, and driving stronger results. Our research shows, marketing print applications continue to grow, reinforcing the opportunity—but capturing it requires a shift in thinking. Learn how leading print professionals are shifting the way they sell print to deliver more value, stronger results, and lasting customer partnerships. Read More

Recent Printing Industry News

Wednesday, June 03, 2026