TrendWatch Graphic Arts Reports: Computer Integrated Manufacturing is Breeding Fear - But Not Investment

TWGA looks at the most recent survey data on CIM as a sales opportunity, CIM as a business challenge, and CIM as a planned investment. Data are analyzed in light of related technology, such as networked digital infrastructure" and building a JDF workflow."

NEW YORK (PRWEB) April 21, 2005 -- New survey numbers for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), released by TrendWatch Graphic Arts, show that perception of CIM as a sales opportunity and planned investment in CIM are lower today than six months ago. But the same survey also shows that concerns about building a CIM infrastructure, and understanding and integrating the CIM concept, as business challenges have doubled over the same time period. What does this mean for the industry?

These are the issues being tackled in TrendWatch GAs latest Special Report, Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Time to Call 911?" In its pages, TWGA looks at the most recent survey data on CIM as a sales opportunity, CIM as a business challenge, and CIM as a planned investment. Data are analyzed in light of related technology, such as networked digital infrastructure" and building a JDF workflow." The report also includes detailed data on respondents attitudes toward, and current levels of adoption of, CIM taken from the TWGAs 2004 CIM report.

Data are provided in historical fashion, with the current data compared to data from the prior two surveys in a side-by-side comparison.

Notes Heidi Tolliver-Nigro, TrendWatch Graphic Arts analyst and author of the report, "While much of the data in the current report may be alarming, especially to technology vendors (printers may actually breathe a sign of relief!), the outlook for CIM is not dire. In fact, we believe CIM to be an extremely important -- and perhaps inevitable -- technology for the long-term. In the meantime, these numbers provide an accurate snapshot of where CIM in the graphic arts industry stands today, and provide a window into where greater industry education needs to be done and what will be required before CIM can take hold on a widespread basis. It also provides a window into where the current pockets of adoption and opportunity lie."

News Highlights...
- 1% of graphic arts firms see CIM as a sales opportunity -- down from 4% one year ago;
- 20% of these same firms see CIM as a business challenge, nearly triple six months earlier.
- 5% of graphic arts firms have taken steps to incorporate CIM into their workflows, rising to 23% of periodical printers;

Availability
"Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Time to Call 911?" is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the 111-page report is $995. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.

Editor's Note
Additional information pertaining to each report is available for editorial purposes. Please make inquiries directly to Judie Ryer.

About TrendWatch Graphic Arts
TrendWatch Graphic Arts specializes in the assessment of trends and changes in graphic communications markets by providing timely and strategic information, hard-hitting market analysis and concise expert opinion. The reports have earned the reputation for containing the most reliable and timely industry intelligence in the graphic arts and graphic design marketplaces.

###