Logical Arrangement

present three levels (organizational, intermediate, and depot), new maintenance techniques evolved. System testing and the use of hot benches started to disappear in favor of specialized test simulators for components and equipment. Unique fault isolation and rapid-fix techniques were developed at intermediate and depot levels. This was based on an “inspect and repair as necessary” unit concept. A reduction in maintenance costs and pipeline turnaround was the goal. Organizational flight deck/line troubleshooting remained on a system basis. The increases in installed systems and equipment complexity reduced flight-line maintenance to component-fault isolation and unit replacement. Technical manuals had to reflect these new practices to support aircraft turnaround-time limitations. Conventional manuals have reached the limits of their expansion. This format that has served so well c a n n o longer cope with new designs. Microminiaturization, computerization, integrated weapons systems design, and the introduction of microfilm media dictated the development and introduction of new formats and presentation methods. This resulted in the work package concept. Work Package (WP) Technical Manual Arrangement. The complexity of weapons system design has made the technician more dependent on publications. To improve technical information, publications place emphasis on data accessibility, adequacy, accuracy, and overall documentation usability. The limited viewing range imposed by microfilmed manuals adds further demands for data presentation improvements. In addition, manuals must be compatible to both paper and film. Investigation of publication requirements, primarily through fleet visits, confirms that usability is the key. The value of information is limited if it is difficult to use. The usability of a manual has three primary elements-visible lock-on format, logical arrangement structure, and quick understanding or comprehension. Q3. What are the two general styles of technical manuals? Q4. Technical manuals are divided into how many major types and what are they? Q5. How are workpackage (WP) manuals divided? Q6. What are the three primary elements for usability in a manual? Format Considerations. Text for microfilm emphasizes coordination between text and illustrations, line art instead of photographic art for illustration legibility, and a comprehensive index for many points of entry. Logical Arrangement. Data is screened and consolidated to make it easier to find units of information within the manual. The units of information are arranged sequentially by functions and tasks. Each unit is also written to stand alone as an individual maintenance unit that contains all the data required for task performance. See figure 2-2. Figure 2-2.—Work package (WP) arrangement data consolidation for organizational and intermediate maintenance. 2-3