Reuse of any digital content, such as a certain section of a technical publication, can be done with the simple action of copying and pasting. Although it may sound easy, the problem is when you reuse content this way, you will have to make a new, slightly altered copy of the same file.
As information exchange is a constant factor governing the aviation industry, these multiple versions created can accrue to a nearly unsustainable level regarding its ability to be effectively maintained. The inevitable mismanagement of repeating information is exactly where human-related errors occur – a mishap that organizations operating within this highly regulated industry cannot afford to allow. Data integrity and compliance are key to prevent undesirable legal and financial consequences.
“True” data reusability allows data to be reused freely between business units and organizations without creating and maintaining multiple copies/versions. Fortunately, the S1000D standard was designed to enable and enhance exactly this process. Maintained in a common source database (CSDB), the modular structure of S1000D data allows each data module to be freely reused as needed (instead of being duplicated). When maintained similar to a physical, long-term asset, S1000D data and infrastructure helps facilitate the procurement of technical publications for decades to come.
Even though S1000D provides numerous benefits, the major downside is that its interoperability and data reusability benefit can only be achieved when all organizations within a supply chain adopt the same version of this specification, and as well, a set of standardized Business Rules. However, this ideal scheme has yet to be achieved, as right now many customers and partners within the supply chain are still asking their suppliers (e.g. OEMs) for highly unique IETM/IETP deliveries.
Another obvious downside of S1000D is the potentially astronomical costs involved with every S1000D-related project. Legacy documentation and technical content rarely get converted to S1000D unless extremely necessary. A conversion is expensive and may only pay for itself if the data being utilized will stay useful for decades to come.
Nevertheless, legacy content becomes more and more obsolete every year with older aircrafts retiring. Almost all newly manufactured aviation parts will soon be delivered with S1000D compliant IETM/IETP. This will push all aviation organizations to undergo a mutual adoption S1000D – a tough but crucial first step to stay compliant within this industry. A S1000D adoption can include the procurement of data systems, tools, and personnel of expertise to kickstart, enable and facilitate the use and exchange of next-generation S1000D data.
An inevitable eventuality in the next few years, interoperability in the supply chain will become much less of a challenge, all organizations will have less worry about their potential partners not delivering or accepting S1000D data. It is also a smart initiative to adopt a powerful IETM/IETP tool to help you use, manage and deliver S1000D content, in which legacy content is also supported to keep your operations running smoothly.
Facilitating S1000D interoperability and reusability
Part of ensuring S1000D interoperability and data reusability is also utilizing a multi-spec IETM/IETP tool to further facilitate the process of sharing and delivering documentation across organizations within the aviation supply chain.
For example, the NIVOMAX Suite of applications for IETM/IETP has robust support for many of the commonly used technical documentation standards in the civil and military sectors. These include the multiple versions of both ATA (Spec 100/iSpec 2200/ iSpec 2300) and S1000D (i2.3, i3.0, i4.0 & i4.1). When using NIVOMAX, your organization is given tools to build, deliver and most importantly – use a wide variety of multi-spec technical documentation, whether the data exist in the scanned PDF format of legacy content, or in the highly dynamic modular format of S1000D.
The other highly important requirement for any type of data sharing within the aviation/aviation domain is ensuring absolute data security and confidentiality. These are challenges that may also be overcome with the adoption of high-security IETM/IETP components, particularly ones engineered with modern security and access authorization features.
For instance, via the NIVOMAX Self-Serve Portal, an assigned administrator can grant access to S1000D content to only authorized users whether inside or outside of the organization. Under fine granular control, access to rights-managed data may be configured per user, fleet, organization, and device. All data is fully encrypted in transit, at rest, and in real-time as they reach the authorized users via an electronic display system such as the NIVOMAX Viewer.
The NIVOMAX Self-Serve Portal also enables both online and offline access to data libraries in the scenario where the connection is restricted. Via this highly secure Portal, the use and reuse of S1000D data are effectively facilitated while ensuring local data residency requirements and export controls regulations.
For a variety of reasons, many organizations in the aviation supply chain will always have layers of special requirements for content delivery. This is why not just one, but every single business unit in the aviation supply chain should work on mutual agreements and compromises to help ease the efforts for data transference, allowing more interoperability and mobility rather than hindering both. Even if saving time and money is not of immediate concern, for aviation, it should always be a top priority to eliminate any possibility of catastrophic human errors that can compromise operations.
About SYNAXIOM
SYNAXIOM is a leading expert in developing robust, extensible, and cost-effective enterprise solutions including NIVOMAX – the viewer-centric software suite of applications for next-generation S1000D and legacy ATA compliant IETM & IETP.
Trusted by the aviation industry including one of three aircraft manufacturers globally, NIVOMAX gives a significant contribution to ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of the technical content delivery process for thousands of individual users and mission-critical business units in the aerospace industry.
Have questions? Let SYNAXIOM hear you – we can help you address any concerns regarding the display technology of interactive electronic technical publications, other related components, and their deployment specific to your requirements and mission-critical systems.