Documentation creation and maintenance can be seen as a mini production company within your company and has all elements of a regular production company. Next to the product flow from input material to sales ready product there is an information stream that makes sure the end result is according to specifications.
The different areas of attention of the technical documentation (mini) company within the company
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Marketing and sales
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Development / maintenance
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Production / delivery
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Contact with the “real” sales and marketing to align requirements for
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Contact with the lawyers to meet the appropriate legal requirements
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Contact with the projects within the company, capacity alignment
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Technology
A balanced choice between tools and processes with the required means and guidelines.
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Craftsmanship
How to maintain the craftsmanship during illness, replacements, transfers of staff.
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Shop floor control or project management. Possibly translation management
- Specification management may require special attention as it connects product development, product and process quality management and marketing.
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Text creation
Converting tech talk and data to information
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Illustrations
A picture is worth 1000 words
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Quality control and terminology managements
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For each element of this documentation production “company” multiple solutions are possible. The marketing and development area’s are the most important sources for the goal of effective and efficient documentation.
