February 27, 2008
Printing Industry Center at RIT Releases Research on Print Productivity

Fifth monograph in 2007-2008 research agenda is released to the public

ROCHESTER, NY (February 27, 2008) – A newly released research monograph from the Printing Industry Center at RIT (http://print.rit.edu) analyzes the potential inefficiencies of the print production system using a system dynamics model. Titled “Print Productivity: A System Dynamics Approach” (PICRM-2008-05), the monograph is authored by Jorge Uribe, a graduate student of the RIT School of Print Media. The study reports on the use of this model to simulate five scenarios that are common in the industry, and makes recommendations on how printers can improve productivity through the implementation of a synergistic strategy.

Key findings include:

• Through the presentation of the workflow as the main print processes (prepress, press, and postpress), the model shows sufficient amplitude and flexibility to adapt to any print company, no matter its size, specialization, or technology.


• Full benefits were only achieved by the correct and timely execution of different policies. A synergistic strategy is recommended for use, as this takes into account the various forces affecting productivity and seeks to align them all for the best possible results.

The report is available for download as a PDF from http://print.rit.edu/research/index.php?page=item&id=115.
The statistical model used in the research and the trial software required to run it are also available for download.

About the Printing Industry Center at RIT
The Printing Industry Center is a joint program of the RIT School of Print Media in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and RIT's E. Philip Saunders College of Business, and was established in 2001 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as one of the Sloan Industry Centers. The Center is dedicated to the study of major business environment influences in the printing industry brought on by new technologies and societal changes, creating a forum for printing companies and associations worldwide to access a neutral platform for the dissemination of knowledge, to share ideas, and to build the partnerships needed to sustain growth and profitability in a rapidly changing market. For more information, please visit http://print.rit.edu.

Media Contact:
Ashley Walker
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Printing Industry Center at RIT
585-475-4231
aswppr@rit.edu