Powerful, Industry‑Driven Features Built for Modern Print Businesses
QuickEasy BOS provides a comprehensive suite of tools tailored specifically for the printing industry. This article lists some of the key tools.
Customisable Items
In QuickEasy BOS you have special item types which are designed to streamline operations and enhance productivity in printing businesses.
Item types categorise the different materials and services involved in printing operations. They are defined as follows:
- Standard: This type is used for general inventory items or services that do not fall into more specific categories. It’s versatile for various uses in the printing process and ideal for raw materials such as ink.
- Substrate (Sheets): This type is used for sheet materials. It includes fields to enter attributes such as colour, grain/flute, gsm, calliper, depth, and width.
- Substrate (Reels): This type is used for continuous roll materials. It includes attributes for grain/flute, width, and calliper.
- Substrate (Square Metres): This type is used for items sold by square metre measurements. The attributes include fields for colour, grain/flute, gsm, and calliper.
- Assembly: This type combines multiple materials, tasks, and outwork items to form a finished product. It is used for complex products that require several production steps.
- Tasks: This type represents labour or services in the production process, such as design, finishing, or setup.
- Costings: This type is used to calculate the cost of materials, tasks, and outwork needed for a job. It helps to create accurate estimates.
- Outwork: This type is used for items or services that are outsourced, such as special finishes or goods which are not assembled inhouse. These items are crucial for managing external vendors and costs.
Built-in Quantity Types for Calculations
Each item type can be quantified in different ways depending on the nature of the item and the specifics of the job. Here are some examples of quantity types used in calculations:
- Job Quantity: The costing quantity is determined by the number of units required.
- Part Quantity: The costing quantity is determined by multiplying the part and job quantities.
- Fixed Quantity: The costing quantity is fixed regardless of the number of units required. Often used for design and other once-off costs.
- Part Area (square metre): The costing quantity is determined by multiplying the job and part quantities by the part area in square metres. Often used to calculate the cost of ink that covers a specific area.
- Part Edge (m): The costing quantity is determined by calculating the edge of the part when needed for seams or rims.
Simplified Estimating Features
Creating estimates in QuickEasy BOS is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly, facilitating efficient and accurate estimation processes for your business needs.
The first step is to create Estimate Types that streamline the creation of estimates by pre-defining the structure and the items that can be included.
The next step is to add an estimate as a line item to a work order or quotation. By selecting an estimate type, all the items and service that should be added are listed. Estimate Types also include customisable controls, such as allowing only a single substrate but multiple finishing services.
Multiple quantities can be estimated simultaneously and displayed as options on a quotation. Product images can be included on quotations.
Detailed Work Orders
In the context of the printing industry, a work order might detail job specifications such as quantity, paper type, binding requirements, and delivery schedules. This feature provides:
- Clarity and Direction: Each work order provides clear instructions and specifications, reducing misunderstandings between the sales, design, and production teams.
- Tracking and Accountability: Work orders allow each phase of the production process to be tracked to ensure that each department meets its deadlines and quality standards.
Integrated Production Planning
Integrated production planning involves synchronising all aspects of the production process—from initial order receipt to final delivery. This approach ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and that production schedules are tightly managed.
- Resource Optimisation: Ensures that machinery, materials, and human resources are used effectively, minimising downtime and excess inventory.
- Enhanced Coordination: Aligns various departments (e.g. pre-press, press, post-press) to work in harmony, improving communication and reducing errors.
QuickEasy BOS integrates work orders with production planning and allows multiple production planning boards to be created. This integration benefits the printing industry due to:
- Automated Scheduling: BOS automatically schedules jobs based on priority and resource availability, optimising press usage and reducing lead times.
- Real-Time Updates: Changes in client requirements or production capabilities are updated in real-time across the system, ensuring that all team members have the latest information.
- Quality Control: Integration allows for checkpoints and quality control measures to be documented and adhered to throughout the production process, ensuring high-quality outputs.
Using the Features
By leveraging the specialised features of QuickEasy BOS designed for the printing industry, businesses can enhance operational efficiency, reduce the need for specialised staff, and improve their financial outcomes.
