Many printing factory owners face the same headaches: orders keep coming in, pricing is hard to calculate, production scheduling is messy, raw materials are always short, and customers keep urging for deliveries…
In reality, relying on manual work to solve these problems is nearly impossible. Modern digital factories depend on seven core systems working together like a well-oiled machine, making production run as efficiently as a high-precision printing press.
Let’s take a color packaging printing factory as an example and see what each of these seven systems does:
1. ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning — The Brain of the Factory
ERP manages the entire enterprise: orders, finance, procurement, inventory, and human resources.
Example:
When a customer places an order for 5,000 packaging boxes, ERP automatically calculates how much paper and ink are needed and even provides cost and profit analysis.
2. MES: Manufacturing Execution System — The Shop Floor Scheduler
ERP handles the big picture, while MES focuses on production. It manages scheduling, production progress, and equipment status.
Example:
MES tells you which printing machine should start when, which processes will be completed today, and gives you a real-time view of production progress.
3. WMS: Warehouse Management System — The Smart Warehouse Keeper
Printing factories handle a variety of materials — paper, ink, die-cutting tools, and finished products. WMS makes warehouse management simple and organized.
Example:
When a customer urgently needs a product, WMS can instantly tell you where the finished goods are stored so they can be packed and shipped quickly.
4. SCM: Supply Chain Management — The External Coordinator
With many suppliers for paper and ink, SCM helps manage them by tracking lead times and costs.
Example:
If a paper supplier delays delivery, SCM provides early warnings to prevent production interruptions.
5. PLM: Product Lifecycle Management — The Design Document Manager
Printing factories often work on new packaging designs, with numerous design files and proofing versions. PLM organizes them to avoid confusion.
Example:
When a customer requests three design changes, PLM keeps track of all versions so you always know which one is final for proofing.
6. QMS: Quality Management System — The Quality Control Officer
Color consistency, paper thickness, and product defects are customers’ top concerns. QMS records every quality check detail.
Example:
If a customer complains about color differences, QMS can trace the problem back to the exact machine and batch of raw materials.
7. APS: Advanced Planning and Scheduling — The Smart Scheduling Assistant
APS is even more intelligent than MES. It considers machine capacity, delivery deadlines, and raw material availability to generate the most optimized production schedule.
The Power of System Collaboration
When ERP, MES, WMS, SCM, PLM, QMS, and APS work together, the printing factory gains an “intelligent brain”:
- ERP handles the big picture
- MES monitors production
- WMS manages the warehouse
- SCM secures the supply chain
- PLM organizes design data
- QMS ensures quality
- APS creates smart production schedules
One packaging factory integrated ERP, MES, and QMS systems and saw:
- A 25% reduction in delivery lead time
- A 40% increase in customer satisfaction
- A significant rise in profitability