The document outlines a strategic initiative by SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory to automate the composition of technical papers and journal articles using NLM XML and InDesign, aiming to improve efficiency, quality, and reduce costs. Key achievements include a 4% reduction in direct costs and an 89% content deployment rate within six weeks, alongside notable improvements in production times for papers. The document also emphasizes continuous improvements in the publication process while transitioning from a print-based to a digital environment.

1. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
AUTOMATING COMPLEX HIGH-VOUME
TECHNCIAL PAPER AND JOURNAL
ARTICLE PAGE COMPOSITION WITH NLM
XML AND INDESIGN
Becky Fadik, SAE International
Brian Trombley, Data Conversion Laboratory
21.April.2015

2. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Today‘s Roadmap
Introduction
Strategic Initiative for Change
Business Challenges and Goals
Embracing Change (2010 – 2014)
Improve Production Efficiency and Output Quality
Next Steps
Conclusion
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 2

3. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
A global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for
the engineering profession. By uniting more than 145,000 engineers and
technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad
spectrum of industries.
We act on two priorities:
• encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals
• setting the standards for industry engineering.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 3
SAE International …..

4. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
DCL is a leading US-based organization that operates one of the most
advanced facilities of its kind, with extensive capabilities to capture data
from virtually any medium and reformat it to fit a client's emergent needs.
• Document and Data Conversion
• Conversion Management
• Content Reuse Analysis
• eBook Production
• Editorial and Composition Services
• Content Consulting Services
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 4
Data Conversion Laboratory …..

5. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 5
Strategic Initiative for Change
Customer Challenges
Mature Product Portfolio
Outdated Publishing Model
Accelerating Pace of Technology
Increased Competition

6. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Print based publishing model to a digital publishing environment
• Cost reduction
• Rapid deployment of content
• Improve output consistency and quality
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 6
Business Goals and Challenges

7. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 7
Strategic Initiative for Change
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
• Change
initiative
approved
and funded
• System and tools in
place
• XML tagging system
defined
• Legacy technical
paper conversion
• Publishing team
formed
• New team,
tools,
workflows
• Significant
quality
issues
• Upgrades
• Multiple
stylesheets
• Importance of
print
• Publish once a
reality
• Needed a new
direction
Q1-Q3
• Introduced Adobe
• Dual publishing
systems in play
• Multiple stylesheets
required
• Publish once –
manual process
Q4
• InDesign focused;
automate
• DCL engaged
• Agile development
process
• Cost reduction
• Rapid
deployment of
content
• Improved
output

8. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
- Automation top priority
- Stylesheet development, InDesign, workflow improvement expertise
- Agile development process
- New ideas enhancing the process beyond the capabilities envisioned
- Extend automation to parts of the page building process such as…..
– Managing all text formatting and manipulation within the XSL reduced the need for application of formatting
after the InDesign XML import
– Consolidating link handling within the context of the AppleScript import script minimized the user steps needed
to create the document; imports, links, footnotes and the Notch Box could now invoked with only one step.
– Incorporation of two document types with the same template automated the process and made user
processing easier.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 8
:
4Q2013 – Revolutionary Change

9. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 9
InDesign File Created by New Process

10. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Publish Once
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 10

11. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 11
Notched Box
One Author Two Authors
Three Authors

12. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Results
• Cost reduction
– 4% reduction in
direct costs
• Rapid deployment of
content
– 89% of publishing
completed by the six
week mark
– Publish once
• Improve output
consistency and quality
– Formatting, spacing,
figure placement,
hyperlinks and
heading levels.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 12

13. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Production Efficiency
• Batch process 30 papers at
a time
• Inclusion of final footer
automated
• Output file selection
automated – technical
paper or journal article
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 13
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
Publishing Timeline
SAE World Congress
2011 (1256) 2012 (1177) 2013 (1369) 2014 (1477) 2015 (1423)

14. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
Production Efficiency
• Experiencing steady growth
in the volume of papers
while the publishing time
frame continues to be
shortened.
• Average production time
dropped from an all-time
high of 3.8 hours per paper
in 2012 to 2.8 hours in 2014
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 14
3.3 3.4
3.8
3.1
2.8
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Hours
Hours per Paper
SAE World Congress

15. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 15
Strategic Initiative for Change
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
• Change
initiative
approved
and funded
• System and tools in
place
• XML tagging system
defined
• Legacy technical
paper conversion
• Publishing team
formed
• New team,
tools,
workflows
• Significant
quality
issues
• Upgrades
• Multiple
stylesheets
• Importance of
print
• Publish once a
reality
• Needed a new
direction
Q1-Q3
• Introduced Adobe
• Dual publishing
systems in play
• Multiple stylesheets
required
• Publish once –
manual process
Q4
• InDesign focused;
automate
• DCL engaged
• Agile development
process
• Cost reduction
• Rapid
deployment of
content
• Improved
output

16. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 16
Next Steps
Improve efficiency by 15%
Continually improve the look and feel of our paper product line.
Next print to digital initiative is - industry standards.

17. SAE INTERNATIONAL
Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
JATS-Con 2015 - Bethesda, Maryland - 21 April 2015 Data Conversion Laboratory 17
Lessons Learned
Fully understand the scope of the project
Agile development process instrumental
Vendor selection and understanding the skills is key
Know when to start with a clean slate
Be open to new possibilities
Rely heavily on the recommendations from your expert
Strong project management is a prerequisite.

18. Copyright (c) 2015 SAE International and Data Conversion Laboratory. Further use or distribution is not permitted without permission from SAE or DCL.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Becky Fadik
Business Unit Leader
SAE International
724-772-7122
beckyb@sae.org
Brian Trombley
National Sales Director
Data Conversion Laboratory
306-377-4500
btrombley@dclab.com