Styles of Smart Factory in the Printing Industry

Abstract

In the printing industry, the SF has been realized by combining upstream systems such as Management Information System (MIS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with devices that support Job Definition Format (JDF), which is a standardized format. The domestic printing industry faces several issues that are obstacles to the realization of the SF, specifically: (1) A lack of alliances between manufacturers required for data collection, (2) a lack of human resources with the know-how to build a SF, (3) reasons preventing the process from proceeding as planned due to original business customs, and (4) as human judgment is required everywhere, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) does not progress. The SF in the domestic printing industry will develop in a style in which equipment and people cooperate. Simultaneously, it is important to make the automation level flexible by switching the production line according to the number of printed items, delivery date, and required quality level, etc., and to utilize sensing technology such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).