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JSG 0308:2017 → Guide for designing Illustrated Part Lists (IPL) & User Handbooks (UHB) for engineering equipment.

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Shipbuilding is a complex process that demands precision, coordination, and quick access to technical data.

Traditionally, bulky paper manuals made it hard to find procedures, update information, or train new personnel efficiently. Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) are changing that.

They bring everything engineers need — interactive diagrams, instant search, real-time updates, and step-by-step guides — all in one digital platform. With IETMs, India’s shipyards are becoming more efficient, safe, and future-ready.

No more paper clutter. No more outdated information. Just smarter, faster, and more connected shipbuilding. 🚢 Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals – Modernizing Shipbuilding. Improving Productivity. Enhancing Safety.

Visit: https://www.codeandpixels.net/

Shipbuilding is one of the most complex engineering domains, involving intricate machinery, electrical systems, propulsion mechanisms, and safety-critical operations.

Traditionally, shipbuilders have relied on paper-based manuals, which present several challenges.

These manuals are often large, heavy, and difficult to navigate, making it cumbersome for engineers and technicians to access the required information quickly.

Searching for a specific procedure or part number is time-consuming, leading to delays in maintenance, assembly, and repair operations. Moreover, updating paper manuals is error-prone and inefficient, as each change requires printing new pages or issuing errata sheets.

This can result in confusion, inconsistencies, or even operational errors. Additionally, paper manuals cannot provide interactive visualizations, which are often crucial for understanding complex ship systems.

How IETMs Overcome These Limitations

1. Compact and Easily Accessible

IETMs store all technical content digitally, making it accessible on computers, tablets, and other devices, reducing physical bulk and improving portability.

2. Fast Search and Navigation

Advanced search and hyperlink features allow users to locate information instantly, improving efficiency during maintenance and assembly tasks.

3. Updatable and Error-Free

Digital manuals can be updated in real-time, ensuring all personnel have access to the latest procedures and specifications, which eliminates errors caused by outdated paper manuals.

4. Interactive Learning and Visualization

IETMs incorporate 3D diagrams, animations, images, flowcharts, hyperlinks, hotspots, cross reference and videos, allowing personnel to visualize complex systems and step-by-step processes, enhancing understanding and reducing operational mistakes.

5. Collaboration and Scalability

Multiple teams can access the same IETM simultaneously, even from remote locations, supporting distributed shipbuilding operations and remote training.

6. Cost and Time Efficiency

Eliminates printing, storage, and distribution costs of physical manuals while accelerating training, maintenance, and production cycles.

Conclusion

Shipbuilding is a complex and highly technical process, involving sophisticated machinery, propulsion systems, electrical networks, and safety-critical operations. Traditionally, shipbuilders have relied on paper-based manuals, which often pose significant challenges.

These manuals are bulky, difficult to handle, and time-consuming to search, leading to delays in assembly, maintenance, and repair.

Updating them is also cumbersome, requiring reprints or errata sheets, which can create confusion or inconsistencies. Furthermore, paper manuals cannot provide interactive visualizations, which are essential for understanding complex ship systems. 

How Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) Solve Challenges of Traditional Paper-Based Manuals in Shipbuilding in India

Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) address these limitations effectively. By digitizing content, IETMs are compact, easily accessible, and portable, allowing personnel to access information on computers, tablets, or other devices.

Advanced search functions enable quick navigation, ensuring that engineers and technicians can locate procedures, diagrams, or part numbers instantly. IETMs can be updated in real-time, guaranteeing that all personnel work with the latest specifications and operational instructions.

Additionally, IETMs integrate 3D diagrams, animations, simulations, and videos, providing an interactive learning experience that enhances understanding and reduces errors.

They also allow simultaneous access by multiple teams, supporting remote training and collaboration, while eliminating the logistical and cost challenges of printing and distributing paper manuals.

Introduction

IETMs are more efficient, interactive, and secure than traditional paper manuals. They allow armed forces to reduce bulk, save costs, update content in real time, and provide interactive learning and troubleshooting tools.

Over time, IETMs can completely replace paper manuals, offering a modern, accessible, and reliable source of technical information for defence personnel.

1. Digitization of Content

IETMs convert all the information from traditional paper manuals into digital, interactive formats.

Text, diagrams, charts, and illustrations can be integrated into multimedia content, making manuals easier to navigate.

Unlike static paper manuals, IETMs allow searchable content, so users can quickly find the exact information they need.

2. Enhanced Interactivity

Physical manuals are limited to static diagrams and instructions, whereas IETMs offer 3D models, animations, and hyperlinks, hotspots, videos.

Personnel can visualize equipment assembly, maintenance steps, and operational procedures in real-time.

Interactive content reduces the risk of misinterpretation, which often happens with paper manuals.

3. Real-Time Updates

Paper manuals become outdated whenever equipment or procedures change.

IETMs can be updated instantly to reflect modifications, software upgrades, or new protocols.

This ensures that armed forces personnel always have access to the latest information without waiting for new printed manuals.

4. Space and Portability Benefits

Physical manuals are bulky and heavy, especially for complex systems with multiple volumes.

IETMs can be stored on tablets, laptops, or secured servers, making them easily portable.

Soldiers and technicians can access manuals on the go, even in remote or field locations.

5. Cost Efficiency

Printing, distributing, and replacing paper manuals is expensive and time-consuming.

Digital manuals reduce printing costs and logistical efforts while ensuring consistency across all units.

6. Integrated Tools for Maintenance and Training

IETMs can include interactive checklists, troubleshooting guides, and procedural videos that paper manuals cannot provide.

Training can be embedded directly into the manual, enabling personnel to learn while performing maintenance tasks.

7. Security and Access Control

Paper manuals can be lost, damaged, or leaked.

IETM is a technical term used to represent but not a format. Even PDF file is also ETM. Normal scanned images compiled together is Level -1 IETM and PDF has hyperlinks, cross-references, indexing which means interactivity is called Level -2 IETM.

How digital transformation is reshaping defence documentation and maintenance in India.

1. Digital Transformation of Defence Maintenance

The Indian Armed Forces are moving away from paper-based technical manuals toward digital, interactive, and network-enabled documentation.

This shift aligns with India’s push for:

Digital India mission

Indigenization under “Atmanirbhar Bharat”

Smart maintenance and logistics management systems

Hence, IETM (Interactive Electronic Technical Manual) has replaced bulky printed manuals as the new standard.

2. Standardization Through JSG 0852

Earlier, every vendor or OEM had their own format PDF, HTML, Word, etc. This created problems in integration, updates, and training.

To solve this, the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) and the Directorate of Standardisation introduced JSG 0852:2019, an Indian Defence Standard that:

Defines a common structure, database format, and interaction model for IETMs.

Ensures uniformity across all documentation supplied to Indian Defence.

Mandates Level 4 (database-driven) IETMs for complex systems.

3. Operational Efficiency and Faster Fault Diagnosis

Defence systems like ships, aircraft, radars, vehicles are complex and maintenance intensive.

IETMs allow:

Instant access to fault isolation guides, step-by-step procedures, and interactive schematics.

Reduced Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and improved operational readiness.

This real-time accessibility has made IETMs indispensable during missions and in field conditions.

4. Lifecycle Management and Easy Upgradation

Traditional printed manuals quickly become outdated after system upgrades or modifications.

IETMs make it possible to:

Easily update content and manage versions.

Maintain a single-source database for all changes throughout the equipment lifecycle.

Support configuration control demanded by DGQA and the Services.

5. Integration with Digital Maintenance and Logistics Systems

Modern platforms (ships, submarines, aircraft, tanks) are now integrated with:

Ship Maintenance Management Systems (SMMS)

Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools

IETMs feed technical and spares data directly into these systems, enabling predictive maintenance and logistics tracking a huge leap from traditional static manuals.

6. Improved Training and Knowledge Retention

Interactive visuals, animations, and clickable procedures in IETMs enhance training efficiency.

For Armed Forces, this ensures:

Faster familiarization for new recruits

Better understanding of maintenance tasks

Fewer human errors in operation

7. Mandatory Compliance for Acceptance

All Defence procurement contracts (RFPs, tenders, and ToTs) issued by:

Indian Navy

Indian Air Force

Indian Army

Now clearly specify IETM Level 4 (JSG 0852 compliant) as a mandatory deliverable. DGQA will not clear the documentation for acceptance unless it meets IETM standards.

Summary:

Reason

Why It Matters

Digital India & modernization

Aligns with paperless Defence ecosystem

JSG 0852 standardization

Ensures uniform, interoperable documentation

Faster fault repair

Boosts operational efficiency and uptime

Easy updates

Supports lifecycle management

Integration ready

Connects with digital maintenance systems

Mandatory compliance

IETM Is Not Just a Software - It’s a User Experience

Not just IETM development - 15+ years of IETM experience delivered.

Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) are often misunderstood. Many still treat them as nothing more than a digital database of manuals or a tick-box item in the project deliverables list. But the true purpose of an IETM goes far beyond that.

With 100+ IETM deliveries across the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, we’ve learned one thing very clearly:

IETM is not a document. It is a training and operational support ecosystem.

And its real value is realized only when it is designed from the user’s perspective.

The Reality Today

In many defence projects, the IETM ends up as:

A DVD handed over at stores

A line item marked as “Delivered”

A file that rarely gets used in real-time scenarios

Unfortunately, this means the actual potential of IETM remains untapped.

What an IETM Is Meant to Be

A professionally designed IETM is:

A digital library

A training aid

A technical assistant

A decision support tool

In the field or during equipment malfunction, a soldier shouldn’t need to search through physical manuals or navigate complex CBT modules.

A well-structured IETM should allow the user to:

Search any term instantly across the database AND attached PDFs

Access procedures, troubleshooting paths, drawings, videos, and checklists in one click

Make faster, confident decisions under pressure

When executed right, an IETM becomes a powerful operational asset.

Case Study - A Practical Example: Shipbuilding

Shipbuilding involves thousands of interconnected systems hull structure, propulsion, power distribution, navigation, communication, weapon systems, HVAC, hydraulics, auxiliary machinery, and safety equipment. Managing and maintaining such a massive platform with conventional manuals becomes inefficient, error-prone, and difficult to update.

Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) solve this challenge by providing a unified, searchable, digital knowledge system that supports shipyards, crew, maintainers, and lifecycle management teams throughout the vessel’s lifespan.

A warship is never the product of a single OEM it is an integrated platform built from numerous independent systems and subsystems. Typically, a single vessel may involve:

120+ OEMs

200+ equipment and subsystem elements

1,000+ technical manuals and supporting documents

Converting only a handful of major manuals, as is often practiced, does not achieve the intended goals of standardization or maintainability.

In reality, faults and failures can occur in any system major or minor making comprehensive documentation essential for effective onboard maintenance, troubleshooting, and readiness.

If the IETM cannot support the user for all components, its usefulness is incomplete.

To solve this, Code and Pixels developed a structured, scalable IETM framework specifically for shipyards enabling:

Single-click access

Organized documentation of all equipment

Uniform structure and easy navigation across 200+ systems

User friendly Graphic user interface

Simple and easy to use and update and manage

AI integrated for additional support

One vessel. Hundreds of systems. One IETM- Quantum TechDocs

Case Study - Missile System Projects - Even More Complex

Missiles comprise multiple subsystems guidance, propulsion, firing circuits, electronics, communication modules, warhead integration, and launch handling equipment. Maintenance and troubleshooting of these components require real-time guidance, historical records, compliance documents.

IETMs enable:

Faster troubleshooting and repair

Standardisation of maintenance practices

Platform-friendly digital documentation

Reduced training time and dependency on physical manuals

In a single missile program, it is common to receive 1,000+ manuals and technical PDF documents, over 50,000 pages of content, along with thousands of drawings, multimedia files, test reports, and reference documents from multiple OEMs and stakeholders.

Consolidating these diverse formats, standardizing them, converting them into a structured digital database, and presenting them in a user-friendly interactive format is a complex, time-intensive, and costly process.

To address this challenge, Code and Pixels has developed an innovative and efficient solution that simplifies integration, accelerates implementation, and significantly reduces effort, cost, and turnaround time.

Code and Pixels Quantum TechDocs IETM Suite is designed to manage, structure, and deliver such enterprise-scale documentation efficiently ensuring usability, accessibility, and long-term maintainability.

One missile. Dozens of OEMs. Thousands of documents. One unified system - IETM.

Why Experience Matters

IETM delivery is not a one-time software handover.

It requires:

Understanding defence workflows

Structuring documentation intelligently

Designing for operational realities

Ensuring the end-user experience is priority #1

At Code and Pixels, we don’t just deliver the software.

We deliver 15 years of learning and insights from executing more than 100 defence IETM projects.

Conclusion:

A professionally engineered IETM provides clarity during confusion, answers during breakdown, and confidence during mission-critical situations.

Choose expertise. Choose experience. Choose usability. Choose Code and Pixels

An IETM should empower the soldier not become another unused file in storage.

Manuals give information. IETM gives answers.

The Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) is a modern alternative to printed user manuals, training manuals, and operation and maintenance manuals used in the defense and aviation sectors.