• An integrated hangtag automation system with an order analysis program for receiving an electronic order file from a customer and outputting an analyzed customer data file in which the order analysis program generates a first plurality of documents from the electronic order file which are useful for evaluating the integrity of the customer order; and a hangtag automation program for receiving the analyzed customer data file in which the hangtag automation program file generates a second plurality of documents from analyzed customer data file which are useful for coordinating the production of hangtags ordered by the customer.
• An integrated hangtag automation system, comprising the following features:
• receive an electronic order file from a customer and outputting an analyzed customer data file.
• output a data file selected from the group consisting of a box label production file and a carton label production file.
• output a data file to an artwork ASCII file.
• output of said artwork ASCII file to an artwork checking file.
• allow an administrator to define parameters for coordinating the production of hangtags.
• include means for allowing an administrator to define parameters for evaluating the integrity of the electronic order file.
• include means for outputting a data file selected from the group consisting of a cutting label file and a box checking file.
• include documents such as plate summary list, plate detail list, packing summary list, packing detail list, plate analysis excel file, packing analysis excel file, box label, carton label , artwork ascii file and artwork cover file.
• integrate with data merge software to produce data and barcode merging documents

1.Plate Arrangement    
Calculate the total number of plates required to cover the whole job and the plate run quantity for each plate. For a 500 barcodes order, it usually takes 3 days to calculate them manually and 5 minutes by automation system.

2.Plate Layout Arrangement
    For hangtag order, many variable data like style, color, size and barcode need to be input into artwork template by prepress. For a 500 barcodes order, it usually takes 4 days to input them manually and 10 minutes by automation system. It is very easy to make human typo errors by manual input processing.

3.Packing Arrangement
    For hangtag order, it is difficult to generate packing list based on different sorting and barcode details manually. Automation system can generate packing IDs for all different barcode details and match with the packing list generated by automated processing. It is very easy to make human errors by manual packing processing.

• Compatible with different data structure for different product items.
• Combine POs for production to print and separate POs for packing.
• Flexible to add or remove fields from all reports generated by using HT Configuration Module.
• Reduce the turn-around time from order to production. For examples, 500 Skus order will take 10 days by manual processing and 5 days by automated processing.
• Reduce production cost by reducing labor hours on data processing.
• Reduce human errors in plate arrangement, packing arrangement and artwork layout arrangement.
• Flexible to configure packing criteria based on customer’s need.
• Generate all detail document instructions for Prepress and Production within a short period of time (less than 10 minutes for a 500 SKUs order).
• One time setup for each hangtag configuration file applicable for repeat orders with the same item code.

Hangtag Automation System Workflow