How To Develop Technical Manuals

Pappas Consulting, LLC

Overview

Survey the Available Resource, Analyze the Physical Article, Analyze the Functional Article, Assess the Content Requirement, Assess the Appropriate Content, Design the Document, Implement Tool Development over Data Mining, Implement the Writing Process based on

available engineering and scheduled events, Perform Scheduled Reviews and Validations, Edit and Publish the Final Product.

Survey Says

Assess the available resource. Drawing Package (As built Drawings,

Integration Diagrams, and Functional Flows),

Subject Matter Experts (Designers, Engineers, Maintainers),

Physical Equipment (Article) for research.

Survey Says…

Assess the complexity of the article to be documented Information Discovery:▪ Count the number of Systems,▪ Count the number of Subsystems,▪ Count the number of Line Replaceable Units (LRU),▪ Count the number of LRUs that require Man-Machine

Interface (MMI),▪ Count the number of Controls and Indicators for each

LRU that requires MMI,▪ Identify the modes of operation for each LRU,▪ Identify the Functions within each mode of operation

for any one LRU.

Physical Analysis

Develop a Top Down Physical Breakdown (TDPB) of the System and it's components represented with an indenture schema. Associate Attaching Hardware Associate Cables Associate Peculiar Support Meta-Data Associate Research Traceability to the NHA Associate a coded system for Data Sorts

Smarter/Better/Faster Perform Task Analysis using the S1000D Task Descriptions (at

various levels of information discovery) for each item in the TDPB: System Subsystem MMI Controls and Indicators Functional Tests and Checks for LRUs with Modes of operation Operational Procedures Emergency Operation Procedures Preventive Maintenance Requirements Periodic Maintenance Requirements Repair Actions Disassembly and Assembly for items that might be provisioned Provisioning Parts Lists Special Tools and Test Equipment Requirements Consumable Material Requirements Peculiar Tasks as required...

Smarter/Better/Faster… After assessing all possible content objects to be

documented, this will produce the Data Module Requirements List (DMRL). Each item in the TDPB of the equipment should have a set

of Tasks associated to it from the DMRL. Using the S1000D, assign SNS (Subject Numbering

System) to each task. This will result in a system of data management whereby:▪ Content objects can be sorted on task type or functional group,▪ Content Object complexity can be predicted and assigned a

performance weight,▪ Content objects can be assigned to individuals and performance

taken against every aspect of the TM under development,▪ Content objects will enable the data designer to produce the

skeletal XML code required for each content object,▪ Earned value can be assessed against each Content object.

Functional Analysis

To discuss system or subsystem functionality it is necessary to interpret and understand the Engineering Functional Flow diagrams.

One step toward grouping equipment functionally is to use an S1000D SNS schema on the TDPB.

Another technique used to communicate function is to associate cable runs as they apply to items in the TDPB. Ultimately the TDPB will represent the indentured

schema in the vertical plane while the functional relationship between subsystems is expressed in the horizontal plane.

Impact Fast Track with Logistics Refine the DMRL using a Level of Repair

Analysis (LORA). Implication: if LORA does not exist, perform LORA.

Refine the Failure Mode tasks using the Failure Mode Effects and Critical Analysis (FMECA). Implication: if FMECA does not exist, perform

FMECA. Refine Provisioning Lists using the Provisioning

Documentation Analysis (PDA). Implication: if PCA does not exist, perform PCA.

Document Design

Using a Content Specification, create the outline of the document. When using XML, create the framed or unframed XML instance.

Apply Business Rules to the TM Outline (or XML framework).

Crosswalk all of the DMRL coded objects into the Outline (or XML framework).

Use single point management of this Outline instance while populating it with content.

Provision The Team with Resources

Gather resource documentation and place it on a common server location. Engineering Drawings, Special Tools and Test Equipment Lists, Personnel Conduct of Training

Documentation (CTD), Item Unique Identification (IUID)

assessment. Create Content Object templates.

Create the Team Collaborative

Place Task Orders for each DMRL line item on the server for Team Members to work. Define the Entrance Criteria, Define the Exit Criteria,▪ A Spreadsheet Tool works well.

Provide the specification Resource, Provide GFI, Provide the content template.

Make the Plan

Based on the scheduled development of engineering subjects produce the work schedule for writing content objects.

Assess milestone development against the document that supports a review cycle. 30% typically exhibits the content data structure, the outline of

subject matter, and all of the written administrative content derived from Business Rules and Regulations,

70% typically exhibits the 30% criteria and 50% of the predicted page count,

90% typically exhibits a complete TM minus engineering changes that have occurred throughout product development,

The 90% product should support the Validation and Verification of the product against the actual equipment,

Preliminary Draft typically exhibits a complete manual ready for Editor Review,

Final Draft removes all of the preliminary markings and is attached to the DD-250 for delivery.

Resource the Plan

Hire Technical Writers that can...(satisfy your requirement).

Hire Illustrators that can...(satisfy your requirement).

Hire a Data Designer that can...(satisfy your requirement).

Work the Plan

Implement the plan for technical manual development: Assign Tasks, Collect Page counts and progress weekly, Update the EVMS database weekly, Ensure team members have what they require to

perform to tasks. Schedule program events for reviews.

Perform reviews as scheduled. Successfully complete the project under

budget and within schedule. Have a party!

Parallel Efforts

Over the past 15 slides several things were going on all at once; or at least staggered in parallel: Project planning and management, Data Design of the specified content, Content Development, Provisioning, Illustrating the manuals.

It is necessary to permit the engineering product to drive these efforts when TM development occurs during development of the engineered article.

Summary

The blow by blow litany of tasks to perform above only represents the end result of any one thing that must be achieved. The true nature of the beast is one that requires leadership and planning as well as, senior skill sets to guide the team in technical agility. All of which is supported by various skill levels (dependant upon who is available today). This complex skill set represents the performance model for your team. Whatever the skill mix of your team, it will equate to "how many hours per page" you perform.

Therefore it is imperative that a knowledgeable writer (who has engaged at least 5 or more full programs) estimate the hours for such an undertaking. A very skilled team may operate at 5 hours per page while a newly incepted team engaging a learning curve may take 10 hours per page. An unskilled group may easily burn 16 hrs/page.

Efforts that also require the Logistics analysis could require an additional 8 hours per page.

These estimates of course are subject to the skill level and mix of your team as well as, the level of complexity and available resource.

Typical TM Content Expectation

Basic TM Approach (loosely on the 38784) for a Maintenance Manual.

Broad System Description. Type of system and it’s function, The elements used to implement the

system (aircraft, Ship, Truck), Common resources:▪ Documents,▪ Materials,▪ Support Equipment.

Typical TM Content Expectation…

Physical Description. System Description of overall equipment

placement, Equipment locations (LRUs).▪ Supporting tables,▪ Supporting Figures.

Controls and Indicators.▪ Supporting tables,▪ Supporting Figures.

Typical TM Content Expectation…

Theory of Operation. Functional Description.

Electrical power distribution.▪ Primary Power Source,▪ Power Conversion,▪ AC Distribution,▪ DC Distribution,▪ Emergency Power System,

Control Distribution for each Mode and Function.▪ Signal Flow Discussion.

Typical TM Content Expectation…

Procedures. Auto Test (BIT/BYTE), Manual Test.

Fault Isolation. If/Then Logic.

Remove/Replace. Disassembly/Assembly. Repair.

Typical TM Content Expectation…

Diagrams. Block – Electrical, Elevation –Installation.

Illustrated Parts Breakdown. Illustrated breakdown of each provisioned

item, List of equipment coded out with ordering

information.▪ Stock Numbers,▪ Parts numbers,▪ SMR Codes.