printIQ Simplifies the Process at Ryerson

PrintIQ (Booth 11652) is a progressive company, and as such is always looking for ways to strengthen the future of print as an industry. This forward thinking has led to printlQ partnering with Ryerson University’s School of Graphic Communications Management program in Toronto. The school, in the modern high-tech Heidelberg Centre, is Canada’s only degree-granting program for the printing industry.

Christopher Kular, a professor at the school, has worked in the print and digital media industries for decades. As a professional working and teaching in the industry, Kular has in-depth experience in areas from estimating and production planning, through to selling strategies and customer service.

Kular recently implemented the printlQ management workflow system (MWS) at Ryerson for use in the Sign and Display Graphics course. From the outset, it became quite clear to Kular that printlQ would add significant value for the 60-plus students in his class.

“All of my students were able to grasp the concepts of calculating the cost of consumables, hourly rates, and production capabilities. printIQ also has features which allow the user to improve selling strategies through material usage and production efficiencies,” he says. “I worked with the printlQ team on an implementation based on our workflow for wide-format printing, proofing, die-cutting, mounting, and specialty finishing equipment. This obviously took time to configure, but was well and truly worth the effort once the final instance was presented to the students. I’ve used a couple of different MIS products over the years, but the printlQ MWS proved to be the most comprehensive, and yet the easiest to use and understand.”

The step-by-step process that forms a major part of any printlQ implementation includes check points to ensure accuracy and consistency from start to finish. The systematic process made it much easier for Kular to teach the key concepts, and for the students to apply this knowledge when analyzing a job for estimating and production planning.

Mick Rowan, product director and VP at printlQ, believes not only in designing and building software to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, but also in looking to the future needs of the print industry as a whole. “Giving Chris’s students access to real-world pricing scenarios is invaluable for preparing them to be able to hit the ground running when they finish their degree. All of us at printlQ are very proud to support Chris and his students in ensuring that the printing industry has a bright, robust future ahead,” says Rowan.

Kular had the final word, noting, “I’ve always held the belief that a print management system should be easy to use, but must also be a capable and reliable tool for learning how to be profitable. In both cases printlQ ticked the boxes. Overall, I am extremely impressed with printlQ, and found that the software added enormous value to the teaching of my students. It was also very clear that printlQ would be a huge advantage in the production and sales management of print and digital media products in any print segment.”