Unifying the S1000D ecosystem: How RWS and Xignal are transforming technical publications for global enterprises

In today’s Aerospace & Defense (A&D) landscape, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators face mounting pressure to deliver high-quality technical documentation while navigating increasing complexity, compliance requirements, and supplier integration challenges. S1000D solutions have long been the backbone of structured technical content management, but many existing systems struggle with inefficiencies, data silos, and collaboration bottlenecks.

 

That’s where RWS comes in. With a global presence and decades of experience deploying and supporting enterprise-class structured content solutions, RWS is redefining the way enterprises manage, collaborate on, and deliver technical publications at scale. Our partnership with Xignal further strengthens our ability to provide a modern, scalable, and efficient S1000D solution that meets the needs of today's global manufacturers.

For decades, supplier data management has been a major pain point in the A&D industry. Historically, technical documentation from suppliers has been created in silos, leading to inconsistencies, compliance risks, and a lack of visibility. Even with BREX modules enforcing business rules, achieving true data alignment has remained a challenge.

 

RWS Contenta Cloud, powered by Xignal’s S1000D technology, introduces Supplier Connect—a game-changer in supplier data collaboration. With Supplier Connect, OEMs can invite suppliers to create, manage, and contribute structured S1000D data directly within a controlled environment. This means:

One of the biggest challenges for enterprises dealing with large-scale S1000D implementations is handling the sheer volume of interconnected data modules, engineering changes, and evolving publication needs. Many traditional solutions were not designed for this level of complexity, leading to slow performance and cumbersome workflows.

 

With RWS Contenta Cloud, enterprises gain a highly performant S1000D platform designed to scale for managing thousands of interconnected data modules. Whether it’s versioning, simplified structured authoring, or role-based access control, the Contenta Cloud and Supplier Connect solutions ensure seamless collaboration between authors, illustrators, engineers, and compliance teams anywhere along the content supply chain.

As A&D manufacturers adopt emerging technologies like AR/VR-powered maintenance manuals, digital twins, and AI-driven predictive analytics, having a future-ready S1000D solution is no longer optional, it’s essential.

 

RWS, in collaboration with Xignal, is at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that enterprises are equipped with:

At RWS, we recognize that technical content is more than just documentation—it’s a mission-critical asset that impacts safety, efficiency, and operational readiness. By leveraging our decades of expertise in structured content management, and our global S1000D experienced staff, we provide a unified ecosystem that helps OEMs, suppliers, and integrators work smarter, faster, and with greater control over their technical data.

 

The future of S1000D is not just about managing content—it’s about unlocking its full potential. With RWS Contenta Cloud and Supplier Connect, that future is here for both you and your content supply chain.

 

Get in touch with the RWS Contenta team today to see how we can help you transform your technical documentation strategy.