printIQ implementation strategy
Planning your operations and structure
Introduction: What is an operation?
Within printIQ, we have a concept of an operation which is a task that is completed on a job. One or more operations are then completed in a pre-defined order to form the manufacturing process. An operation is the high level task under which you define materials, labour and machinery which determines the method by which the operation is to be carried out on any particular job.
An operation can be service or product based with the result being a traditional finished good or alternatively, it can produce a digital product or service.
The operation is a key component within printIQ as the majority of pricing is driven from the operation, so if you understand this you’re well on the way to mastering printIQ.
Overview of the structure
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Operation |
A task that is performed during the manufacturing process. Generally an operation is completed on a job in a specific order. |
Component |
An attribute of an operation that defines how the operation is to be carried out, e.g. which materials, labour and machine resources will be used and how will it be priced. |
Parameter |
An attribute of an operation that modifies the way that the operation is to be carried out. Generally it is used to specify quantities to be used on an operation. |
Operation question |
An attribute of an operation that captures operation specific information about that task. Sometimes known as a Quote Question, they have no pricing implications and serves to capture production / instructional type information. |
Quote question |
A question / information capture option that relates to a product on a quote. It is more high level than an operation question. |
Simplified quote |
The estimating / ordering process available within printIQ that is used by customers and less technical staff. It introduces a child proof layer over the top of the estimating process to ensure that you only offer products that your factory can produce. |
Custom quote |
The estimating process used by trained users familiar with your factory capabilities. It provides more flexibility within the estimating process to accommodate more complex / less frequent requests. |
Cost price |
The pricing layer within printIQ that represents the true direct costs of manufacturing, i.e. raw materials, labour and machine usage for the product being produced. Cost price is driven and controlled by the Component record |
Cost plus price |
The secondary pricing layer that can be used to add indirect costs and overheads to the cost price or alternatively, can be used to deliver a base sell price. Cost price is driven and controlled by the Component record |
Wholesale price – mark-up layer 2 |
This is a mark-up layer which is added to the Cost Plus price to add margin to the costing elements of the job. It adjusts the price of the quote by adding / removing from the total price and does not adjust each operation within the quote. Wholesale price is driven and controlled by the Wholesale Pricelist that is assigned to a Factory and / or Site. “Wholesale” is our standard term and can be adjusted to suit your business. It is generally used to deliver a transfer price to resellers, brokers or sales reps from which they can add additional mark-up. |
Retail price - mark-up layer 3 |
This is the final layer of mark-up that adjusts the wholesale price of the quote. Again, the term “retail” can be adjusted to suit your business. Retail price is driven and controlled by the Retail pricelist which is assigned to a customer. It is generally used by resellers, brokers or sales reps to complete minor adjusts needed to close the deal or where there is potential to increase margin. |
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Planning the structure of your operations
When setting up printIQ, you effectively have 4 options when deciding how to structure your tasks and related selections.
Multiple |
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Component |
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Operation |
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Operation |
In this section, we look at each option in more detail including why you would use the approach and what are the up and downsides of each.
Multiple operations
This approach is more like how you would set up a traditional print MIS with very defined operations with the name defining exactly what it does. In this approach, the components would be more simplistic as the task is defined more by the operation description.
Up-sides |
Down-sides |
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Component selection
Component selection is all about the user choosing which of the component records relating to the selected operation they want to use on this particular quote. Generally, printIQ makes this decision for you based on the most appropriate component record. However, in this scenario, you are allowing the user to decide. You would do this because the options are subjective, they may be something we can’t determine from the specifications provided or where you simply want the user to choose themselves.
Up-sides |
Down-sides |
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Operation parameters
This technique allows you to have an increased level of control over quantity, price and time. It’s generally used when the information is subjective, it cannot be read from the job specs or where you want specific details specified by the user.
Up-sides |
Down-sides |
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Operation questions
This technique allows you to capture additional information about an operation that are important to the job specification but does not affect price. The general purpose is to provide essential information to be displayed on the Job Bag and avoid having to contact the customer during the job’s production process. Operation questions can be optional or mandatory and they can be delayed until quote acceptance / Checkout to ensure that the initial pricing phase can be completed without wasting time on capturing additional data.
Up-sides |
Down-sides |
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Things to consider when deciding how to structure your setup
When deciding how best to structure your operations and pricing setup within printIQ, you might like to consider the following:
Concept |
Multiple |
Component |
Operation |
Operation |
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Affects pricing |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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Minimises the number of selections for a user |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Available in Simplified quotes for staff |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Available in Simplified quotes for customers |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
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Provides the child proof layer/validation to ensure only valid selections are made |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
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Available in Custom Quotes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Ability to pre-set on a Custom Quote template |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
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Associating a department code |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
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GL account assignment |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
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Assigning Reporting Codes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
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Will pricing remain in place when you edit the job |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
N/A |