Firefighting vehicle in a nighttime operational scenario for a safety-related case study.

Efficient documentation using an XML content management system and integrated translation management

Services:

  • Technical writing, including graphics
  • Migration of existing manuals to a new CMS
  • Management and provision of professional translations

Customer description

Manufacturer of fire engines and firefighting equipment

The starting point

The required operating and maintenance manuals, as well as supplementary instructions for equipment, were initially produced by external technical writers using desktop publishing software. The most time-consuming points in the process were the editing of variant manuals, version control and management of translations. Foreign-language typesetting also necessitated a considerable investment of both time and money.

To ensure long-term optimisation of these processes, the company switched to an XML-based content management system with automatic translation management for approved elements.

STAR solutions

STAR provided the client with technical writers who have an engineering background and a wealth of experience in using XML content management systems.

As part of the project, existing manuals were migrated to the new content management system. The technical writers also created new documentation and the necessary graphics within the system itself.

The required translations are provided and managed within STAR’s own content management system. As a result, the client now benefits from efficient, consistent and cost-effective multilingual documentation.

STAR in action

  • Technical writing, including graphics
  • Migration of existing manuals to a new CMS
  • Provision of translations