The problem with automation is that it means something different to almost everyone. And far too often, it’s focused solely on file movement, file processing, and the pre-press space. One of the things we’re passionate about is ensuring that automation impacts the entire process of how a product is made. In most plants 75% of cost of goods sold is downstream of the press.
To address this, we use a framework to assess how effectively our clients are implementing workflow automation and to identify gaps in their automation processes. We call this framework PACT.
The PACT Framework Philosophy
The PACT framework is based on a simple philosophy:
- You need to be able to see each process step of production in your plant (many don’t).
- Someone needs to be accountable for each action in production.
- Real-world costs should be visible.
- The process should be alive, actions should be taken, triggering continuous improvement.
PACT explained
PACT captures the four essential components of effective automation:
- Process Visibility: Is each process and action for every component of a product visible? Can that action be tracked, or are there hidden steps in your plant? Visibility is crucial for understanding what happens at every stage of production.
- Accountable: Is a person or machine responsible for each action in the process? Can you attach component ID, time, and error information to a specific person or machine? Accountability ensures that every action has an owner, preventing untracked activity.
- Cost: Can the cost of each action or process stage be identified? This means real-world costs—such as the time an action takes, the media consumed, or rework required—are accurately added to the cost of goods. Understanding costs allows for better financial control and decision-making.
- Take action: This is where the rubber hits the road. The insights gained from making production visible, accountable, and cost-tracked must be applied to drive specific improvements. Action is what turns insights into operational gains.
Why PACT Works
PACT is a simple framework—and simplicity is often the key to effectiveness. I’ve seen facilities extract up to 30% efficiency gains by moving from invisible and assumed production practices to a system that makes production fully visible and accountable. The goal is to elevate automation from simply moving files to transforming the entire production process into something alive and continuously improving.
Automation should be more than just pre-press efficiency. It should redefine how you approach every step of manufacturing, making the whole process smarter, more transparent, and ultimately more profitable.
