Automatic job sorting with MasterQ for improved efficiency and economic viability for digital printing

Good production planning is the key to the economic success of a printing company. Especially when it comes to digital printing of small and ultra-small print runs, or order information and descriptions that already arrive in digital form, e.g. via the printshop's website, clever planning can significantly improve production efficiency. For this reason, manroland web systems has developed the MasterQ software module, which acts as a link between MIS systems, prepress, or web2print applications, and printing systems and print finishing processes. Using MasterQ, printshops can determine the optimal production sequence for several different production modules. 

MasterQ was developed by manroland web systems to synchronize finishing modules with the printer and is especially suited for users of one or more digital printing systems and digital finishing lines such as FoldLine and FormerLine. The module sorts, groups, and verifies incoming print orders, even if they stem from various sources, based on a special scalable algorithm. The jobs prepared this way are then relayed to the digital printing systems and the print finishing control (such as WorkflowBridge). In return, these provide MasterQ with status and process information. 
    
Systematic planning
Planning takes the features and equipment of the printers and finishing lines into account. For example, if a change of the color profile requires the press to stop, several orders with the same color profile are grouped together. General order parameters such as color printing mode, printing substrate, and format are taken into account as well as special features of each print job, such as a specific delivery date and required print finishing changeover times. This way, every order is automatically allocated the most convenient slot in the processing queue for the printing company and is directed towards the optimally suited production line. 

Optimal utilization even for ultra-small print runs
For small digital inkjet print runs, automatic sorting of incoming orders is a key factor for the desired quick throughput. This ensures optimal utilization and a quick ROI. As a result, the orders that are prepared online or in the prepress can be printed in the optimal sequence without delays and manual interference. Production-related downtimes during the print production are reduced to a minimum. In future, production on a web offset press can also be included via a PPM production planning interface. 
 
Grouping of print orders and job queues
Based on the JDF format, MasterQ allows grouping of print orders according to different requirements. Grouping can take place manually via drag&drop or automatically for incoming orders. In addition, different production sequences for different output stations, pre-selection purposes, or other definable requirements can be generated.

Total control over the production system
The system allows users to edit and validate order data. These are defined for both finishing and printing processes. Currently, MasterQ supports the finishing systems FoldLine and FormerLine. The order definition contains all information required for automatic presetting of the modules. In addition, the system verifies the formats of the order files, adjusts parameters for inline finishing, and confirms the production viability of the order with the existing print and finishing line. 

User-friendly interface and handling
Users can see the planned orders with all key parameters, allowing them to change the plan. They can decide what they want to see and the sequence of orders in the various lists. Various status displays are available depending on the connected presses.

Reporting 
Process parameters, such as production times, downtimes, order changeover times, copy volumes, etc. can be reported to existing MIS systems. The formats and contents of the messages are determined by the customer’s existing MIS system (customer-specific option).