Control and Management Methods for Prepress Production in Multichannel Newspapers

Prepress production in newspapers is a complex, time-critical manufacturing process involving heterogeneous networked systems. Increasing competition and changing market requirements are making new demands on production control and management as well as on the flexibility of the production process in producing originals for multiple delivery channels, both printed and on-line. In a research project focusing on prepress production, but with a global perspective, aiming at the integration of the entire newspaper production process, we have defined models for the production process as well as concepts and methods for control and management of systems and operations in a continuously changing environment. Some effects of an implementation of these methods are enhanced production control in multichannel publishing, flexible product design, and increased productivity. In a research project focusing on prepress production, but with a global perspective, aiming at the integration of the entire newspaper production process, we have defined models for the production process as well as concepts and methods for control and management of systems and operations in a continuously changing environment. Some effects of an implementation of these methods are enhanced production control in multichannel publishing, flexible product design, and increased productivity.