Production Management Software General Featureset

I'd like to elaborate on featuresets for the ultimate Production Management applications, where available today or offered as future concepts. I'm curious what others would like to see that I haven't covered or for which there is a better idea.

There have been other postings about "pagination software", which as an identifier is misleading as it can be interpreted in a couple of ways. Better in my opinion for what I'm writing about below is "mapping software": the determination of each page's ad vs. editorial content taking into account all the factors of print: magazine printer as well as advertiser requirements and each issue's P&L. And today, modules supporting the publisher's web-site. To me "pagination software" would include, primarily, Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign.

Having said that, I and a friend (since retired) had collaborated on such an electronic capability going back to 1978, before Windows and the Mac. Even took a stab then at such a product but the DOS interface was simply too primitive and would require a GUI to be built from scratch.

Fortunately, several mapping software products are available now, and for disclosure's sake, I am retained by one software vendor who offers a very elegant and customizable map (JournalDesigner @ www.dataplan.de), but who is taking its companion product, JournalProducer, much further than my own original vision.

What was originally a single concept has grown to include a number of software apps related to magazine production, most recently including now an interface with magazine printers.

So, in categories, what is the ideal composition of software features benefiting the publisher in magazine production, including not only print but also websites? I'll give you my list but am interested in what you would include as well (or your challenges to ones I list):

SOFTWARE INTEGRATION by or with the Master Production System (MPS) I am covering, must be available to interact with publisher's other software systems and where possible, in real time and exchanged dynamically: i.e., at the moment a change is made in one system, it immediately becomes know to other systems impacted by the initiating system, including with your printer. Such integration for the production department includes to and from,

1) Accounting.

2) Editorial: both page layout (e.g., Quark and InDesign) including the ability to auto-paginate an issue for template-driven pages; editorial planning/management (e.g., QPS, K4 and Woodwing) and Content Management systems.

3) Advertising: where an ad system is available to feed and read from that system to avoid redundant entry. And, Ad Portals and other ad file receiving/validation systems. Plus electronic insertion order and production acknowledgments with advertisers/agencies. Support advertiser requirements like the Ad Index. And a map that ad system integration enables the importing of ad insertion information (including actionable placement instructions) as well as exporting to the ad system of such information as page folio(s) upon which each ad resides.

4) Export ad billing information, including electronic tearsheets, to Accounting's A/R system.

5) Separate Editorial and Ad Booking system modules in the event of no separate system.

6) Circulation could also be integrated where such an existing system is available, or provided as a part of the MPS. Enables creation of the Print Order the publisher sends to the printer, along with supporting cost-effective geo/demo planning (including press ganging) through the map.

7) Magazine printer integration to export the map, wherein the MPS also creates and exports electronically Purchase Order or (where under printer contract) Production Order, and all specifications and requirements impacting the printer, including the aforementioned Print Order breakdown.

A COST PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM initiated by the publisher and continued by the printer (both working off the printer's rate tables as a part of the publisher's contract with its printer) that is both comprehensive and customizable to accommodate, e.g., binding slow-down penalties/premium. Such a cost system would accommodate:

(a) for the publilsher, annual budgets including updates down to the magazine issue level and which can be consolidated/rolled-up into Group, Division and Enterprise level budget summaries. Further, can create estimates automatically while mapping the issue; or including templates and job cloning abilities, can create the estimate manually for special management or other requests. Finally a "Pre-bill" that would become part of the Purchase/Production Order transmitted to the printer. Such budgets can including not only Manufacturing expenses but (optionally) Distribution.

(b) For the printer, a reduction in pro forma requests from by the publisher. AND, can automatically feed all production and billing requirements to related printer MIS systems, including CIM support, with the appropriate filtering to ensure, e.g., validating correct machine use and covering when an item is out-of-spec for immediate auto-notification to the publisher for resolution. Such information assists the printer in correct scheduling and with the publisher's Pre-bill serving as the first step in composing the printer's invoice with enabled real-time collaboration when printer and publisher are not in sync.

c) Integration with Production Scheduling to ensure publisher and printer are in sync not only in terms of factors impacting deadlines but also correct machine use.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULES: Publisher can create and update production schedules in real-time and including interaction with the printer for back-and-forth collaboration. the publisher's Production Schedule module can also provide prompts (pre-set and on-date) of each scheduled item. Further, can record actual dates of each deadline for further scheduling refinements.

PAPER MANAGEMENT (when supplied by the publisher): maintaining publisher-set minimum requirements by paper lot for all magazines using it through reminders, purchase order preparation et al, posting of mill's manifest, import lot usages by printer to publisher's PM system, and incorporate user-customizable contract paper reconciliation: contract to actual usages. With overview of all publisher-furnished stock by printer location to ensure using up discontinued paper lot balances as feasible.

CONTACTS MANAGEMENT: with names, job titles, contact information and market(s) served and business transactions history with each as well as their current status with the publisher (e.g., vendor, client, and others).

I'm sure this listing is incomplete and I have not included system architecture or support. I am anxious to see what capabilities others would either add or take objection to.


Bert Langford
blangford@dataplan.de