Welcome to our new blog site as we kick it off with our S1000D blog series on everything you need to know about S1000D technical publication management. We will explain how implementing an S1000D solution can drive cost savings using real-world ROI case studies from the Defense sector. We will discuss how manufacturers of mission-critical systems have achieved ongoing cost benefits in several surprising areas beyond content reuse and improved quality. We will also explain how increased system availability and technician efficiency can contribute to your overall return on investment in S1000D. We hope you find it helpful in assessing how S1000D will impact your organization’s productivity and ongoing production costs.
Intro
In this series of blogs, we will discuss another element in technical publication challenges, including:
• The Promise of S1000D
• S1000D Business Case Considerations
• What is involved with S1000D Implementation
• Technical Publications Cost and Value Drivers
• ROI Cases
• Availability – Another Important Value Parameter
• End-to-end focus – Summarizing Savings
• Justifying the Investment
First Off, What is S1000D?
S1000D is an international specification for procuring and producing technical publications that support land, sea, and air applications for civil and military programs¹. It is jointly produced by the Aerospace and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD), Aerospace Industries of America (AIA), and the Air Transport Association (ATA).
S1000D uses standard technologies, mainly XML, to define a neutral and modular format for technical content. It also provides an interchange methodology and defines possible functionality for Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETPs).
The S1000D specification provides capabilities for:
• Standardized content creation
• Standardized identification management & content structures
• Reuse of content for cross-media publications
• Management and interchange of content
• Change and revision management concerning product changes
• Advanced delivery capabilities using Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETPs)
Content produced following S1000D is authored in XML using a modular format called a “data module.” An authored data module describes a product object or a maintenance procedure and is defined as a “self-contained unit of information.” It carries all its configuration data, including identification code, title, issue number, issue date, security class, and applicability. Individual data modules are identified by globally unique identifiers called Data Module Codes (DMCs) that use logical and specific numbering principles to facilitate storing and managing data modules in a Common Source Data Base (CSDB).
S1000D aggregates data modules into a completed publication utilizing an XML “publication module,” which references the data modules within the appropriate book structure. A data module can be included in multiple publication modules; this is how S1000D achieves content reuse.
Next up: The Promise of S1000D
