Abstract

High accuracy in the estimation of production jobs is necessary for the profitability of print companies. Estimating cutting table technology has proven problematic for industry. For some companies, a process does not exist, while others utilize an existing method that may prove highly inaccurate in establishing reliable estimates. Not only does the lack of reliability impact profitability of the company, but it may also hinder production scheduling. This study seeks to examine cutting times across different tools and substrates to test existing methods and begin to develop a new system for more accurate time standards and cutting table estimation.

This paper presents the results of an initial investigation into predicting cut times and an analysis of existing methods. Results suggest current methods may not be accurate depending on the intricacy or complexity of the design/product being cut. While current methods base estimated cut times and overall job estimates on cut length and complexity, this study highlights that these characteristics may not best meet the needs of the print industry.