Label printing system and method

A label production system optimized for deployment at a user location, the label printing system comprising:

• a label print engine configured to receive formatted digital data related to a label and print the related label on media;
• a finishing machine configured to receive a printed label from the label print engine and perform a finishing task on one or more printed labels;
• and
• a central processor connected to the label print engine and the finishing machine and configured to send label print and finishing information to the label print engine and the finishing machine respectively, the central processor configured to create an optimized label production job to be sent to the print engine and finishing machine, and wherein the optimized label production job is configured to optimize time, cost, waste, design, construction, and power consumption, the optimized label production job based on:
• characteristics of any print engines connected to the central processor, including speed, and power consumption characteristics;
• ink consumption of any print engines connected to the central processor;
• finishing processes needed to be performed by a finishing machine, including cutting, application of finishing coatings, and removal of waste;
• speed and power consumption of a finishing machine connected to the central processor;
• availability and cost of media in an inventory system;
• and
• availability and cost inks in the inventory system;
• the central processor is connected to the inventory system and wherein the inventory system is configured to communicate label media inventory levels to the central processor, the inventory system is configured to monitor inventory levels both at a user location and off site including at various points along the supply chain, the inventory system is configured to inform the central processor of variable data points including but not limited to inventory levels throughout the supply chain;
• wherein the central processor is configured to receive the art file and generate formatted digital data based on the art file to be sent to the print engine for printing of a label based on the art file.