SECURITY PRINTING
A newly inaugurated SECURITY PRINTING PRESS with the-state-of-the-art technology prints all documents, checks and bonds, certificates and property deeds, as well as various types of magnetic stripe cards. After the inauguration, Ministry of Interior of Qatar did not hesitate to make another important leap toward innovation – implement Sistrade MIS|ERP software - in order to stay at the cutting edge of technology.
INTERVIEW WITH MOHAMMAD HAMAD FOR PACKAGING MEA MAGAZINE [PDF VERSION]
The security printing industry operates in a uniquely demanding environment, where specialised workflows, advanced materials, and constantly evolving security designs set it apart from conventional printing. Managing highly complex processes—from planning and manufacturing to quality control, compliance, and reporting—requires platforms beyond standard software. Sistrade MIS|ERP addresses these requirements with a secure, flexible, and modular architecture designed specifically for security printing, delivering end-to-end material traceability, strong data protection, user-level authentication, and integration across printing, numbering, finishing, and quality-control machinery.
Its scope covers real-time production monitoring, shop-floor data capture, inventory and warehouse control (including mobile and RFID-tagged units), scheduling optimisation, quality control, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement—giving security printers total visibility, automation, and process control at every stage. In practice, this enables higher efficiency, stronger material governance, and the highest standards of authenticity, integrity, and regulatory compliance.
As SISTRADE marks 25 years of MIS and ERP innovation in the global print and packaging sector, its partners reflect on the evolution of specialised MIS architecture. Among them, Mohammed Ahmed Hamad, IT and Security Manager at Security Printing Press (SPP), shares his operational insights with Packaging MEA’s Chief Editor, Ben Daniel.
Mohammed Ahmed Hamad is an Information Systems Expert and Information Security Officer at Security Printing Press (SPP). With over two decades of experience in ERP systems, ISO certifications, PCI compliance, and regulatory security governance, he specialises in aligning IT architecture with operational enforcement inside high-security production environments—ensuring traceability, access control, encryption, and compliance remain structurally embedded into every manufacturing layer.
Ben Daniel: Mohammad, thank you for joining with us. To start off, could you give our readers an overview of Security Printing Press and the key areas it specialises in?
Mohammad Hamad: Security Printing Press (SPP) was founded in 2013. We focus on banking cards, ID cards, chequebooks, and access cards. All cards related to government entities and national security are produced at SPP.
BD: Given the highly specialized nature of security printing and authentication, how has Sistrade’s ERP solution streamlined your operations and ensured compliance?
MH: We started with Sistrade for simple offset and plastic card printing. As our business and government requirements expanded, the flexibility of the system helped us grow. Its vertical functionality provides the automation, audit trail, and management control necessary to maintain compliance across all processes.
BD: End-to-end material traceability is vital in security printing. How does Sistrade’s ERP system guarantee this across all production stages, and what core technologies make it possible?
MH: Because we work with critical materials—chips, antennas, security inks, and special papers—each component must be tracked individually. Sistrade’s ERP registers every material and monitors it from procurement through delivery or shredding. This traceability ensures compliance with standards such as PCI and ISO 45001. Every stage of the process is documented and controlled.
BD: That’s impressive. How does the system ensure secure access and protect sensitive data?
MH: The access control is built vertically, not just by modules but by individual pages, machines, and functions. This means I can define who can access, view, or modify information at every level. The system encrypts all data, ensuring confidentiality and full auditability—key aspects in secure printing operations.
BD: You’ve worked with ERP systems for over two decades. What sets Sistrade apart from other platforms?
MH: Most ERP platforms operate horizontally, covering general business functions. Sistrade is different because it’s built vertically for specific industries. Their team understands complex workflows like ours and provides targeted functionality. They have experienced professionals, solid customer support, and a deep understanding of production control.
BD: Would you recommend Sistrade to other companies aiming to enhance efficiency and compliance?
MH: Yes, definitely. Sistrade offers complete control so users can focus on improving business performance rather than routine supervision. It’s reliable, flexible, and backed by a strong support team. I would fully recommend it to others.
