Hybrid Interactive Technical Manual Cost Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high costs associated with creating and maintaining interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs) make traditional methods cost-prohibitive, especially when converting from paper-based or non-interactive native formats to fully interactive electronic formats.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid IETM approach is developed, where only selected sub-elements of technical data are converted to an IETM database format, with a cost-benefit analysis identifying core and high-benefit sub-elements for conversion, while linking unconverted sub-elements in their native format, reducing the overall conversion costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all technical data is converted to IETM database format, then full interactive functionality and user benefits are achieved, but conversion and maintenance costs become prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments technical data into hierarchical sub-elements ( chapters, sections, paragraphs, figures, tables) and converts only selected portions to IETM format rather than the entire manual. This selective conversion approach reduces costs while maintaining key interactive benefits for critical maintenance tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels of conversion to different parts of the technical manual based on their importance and usage frequency. Critical maintenance procedures receive full IETM conversion with interactive features, while less critical sections remain in native format, optimizing the balance between cost and functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If selective conversion of sub-elements is implemented, then conversion costs are reduced, but loss of some interactive functionality occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs cost-benefit analysis and identifies core maintenance tasks before conversion, prioritizing which sub-elements should be converted to IETM format. This preliminary selection ensures that the most valuable interactive functionality is preserved in the converted portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a hybrid system where converted IETM sub-elements and native format sub-elements coexist, with the IETM database acting as an intermediary layer that provides interactive access to critical information while linking to native format documents for comprehensive coverage.
3Ease of manufacture
If cost-benefit analysis is performed on all sub-elements, then optimal selection of converted elements is achieved, but additional processing time and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the analysis process to evaluate sub-elements at a hierarchical level (chapters, sections, paragraphs) rather than analyzing every individual element. This segmented approach reduces processing complexity while still identifying optimal candidates for conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of evaluation by using maintenance history data and task frequency metrics to prioritize sub-elements for conversion. This parameter-based approach automates the selection process and reduces manual analysis complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer program product of developing a hybrid interactive electronic technical manual. A set of sub-elements associated with core maintenance tasks is selected from a plurality of sub-elements in technical data for a device to form a set of core sub-elements. A cost-benefit analysis is performed on each sub-element in the set of remaining sub-elements to identify a sub-element benefit rating for the each sub-element. Sub-elements in the set of remaining sub-elements having a sub-element rating greater than or equal to a threshold benefit rating are selected to form a set of high benefit sub-elements. The set of core sub-elements and the set of high benefit sub-elements are converted from the non-interactive native file format to an interactive electronic technical manual database format. A set of links to the set of unconverted sub-elements is generated to form the hybrid interactive electronic technical manual.