P5 Project FAQ

Q1.) What is the P5 Project and what is the goal?

A1.) The primary mission of the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press, and Postpress Organization or “CIP4” is to foster the adoption of process automation in the printing industry. CIP4 realizes that the purpose of process automation is to achieve the fifth “P” – “Profit”, and the P5 project focuses on helping make automation technology more easily accessible, realizable, and profitable to printing industry members.

Q2.) What is the scope of the P5 Project?

A2.) While the present CIP4 development process is optimized for evolutionary change and managing one element at a time, several CIP4 members have made suggestions for changes that may require more substantial changes to JDF, including technological advances that have occurred since its creation, such as leveraging new XML management techniques. The P5 Project has been initiated to consider such member suggestions. This will be a one-time effort and the general structure that has been working quite well to support and maintain CIP4’s standards will remain the same.

Q3.) Are we changing the name of CIP4 or the direction of the organization?

A3.) No, the CIP4 name and direction will remain the same. CIP4’s mission is to foster automation in the printing industry; that hasn’t changed and we will continue to focus on automation. Furthermore, CIP4’s policy is to make use of existing standards and we will continue to make use of both existing standards and new technologies in the marketplace as appropriate.

Q4.) Why are we pursuing the P5 Project?

A4.) Several CIP4 member suggestions have been presented that require a broader analysis than is currently appropriate for our existing JDF management process. As CIP4 is a member-driven organization, the P5 Project has been initiated to address the member suggestions that merit such a broader view.

Q5.) What is the schedule for the P5 Project?

A5.) There is currently no set schedule. The eventual schedule will be dependent upon what, if any, changes the CIP4 members decide are important to pursue. We hope to complete a slate of proposed modifications and enhancements to CIP4’s standards and conduct a member ballot by Fall 2010. Changes may take two years or longer to develop, test, implement and make public.

Q6.) Who is involved in the P5 Project?

A6.) The CIP4 organization consists of over 300 member companies and about 1,500 individual participants from those companies. The P5 Project is open to participation and input from all members.