Printing system and method including active and inactive image marking engines

This disclosure provides a printing method and system including two or more integrated image marking engines, wherein the printing system is operated with less than the total number of image marking engines to generate the maximum specified prints per minute associated with the printing system. According to one exemplary embodiment, each image marking engine is controlled to be inactive in a round-robin manner to maintain substantially equal running time on each image marking engine or a substantially equal number of printed sheets on each marking engine.