Introducing iFigs: True point-and-click interactive figures.

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iFigs - true point-and-click rep

Do you currently use military parts manuals?

There aren't too many paper based manuals anymore, so chances are you're using an electronic version of the parts manual. It is a major step forward - but it still has lots of room for improvement.

I'm sure you've found yourself flipping through endless electronic pages trying to find your part, only to have to cross-reference a manufacturer's part number to the index at the back of the book - just to find the NIIN.

And then don't forget that you have to write all your parts requests on a 2404 or 5488E (or whatever form you're using), and hope you didn't write down the wrong number or that the supply clerk can read your writing.

If they have the time, most supply clerks first cross-reference that NIIN with FedLog to make sure that it is still valid (good Acquisition Advice Code, hasn't been replaced with a new NIIN - you get the idea). If they don't, and the NIIN you wrote down has been replaced, you won't find about about it for a few days as your requisition works its way up and down the supply channels - increasing your Repair Cycle Time.

Do you wish there was an easier way to identify your parts requirements?

Now there is:

Introducing Point-and-Click Military Parts Manuals

interactive electronic technical manual IETM overview

How do they work? Let's break it down and take a look at each element.

NOTE: You may click on any of the below images to view a small Flash animation.

iFig Reader: a free IETM viewer application

First, we created an application that you can install on your computer that is absolutely FREE. It is called iFig Reader. The "i" stands for interactive and the "Fig" stands for Figure. The program displays interactive figures.

What is an interactive figure?

An interactive figure - or iFig as we like to call it - uniquely blends all of the following elements within the iFig Reader application:

  • an interactive image of the repair parts page
  • FedLog catalog data
  • Repair Parts and Special Tools List (RPSTL) data
  • Usable On Code (UOC) data
  • Groups and Kits data
  • Easy to use search features

All of these elements are presented in the iFig Reader application in a logical and configurable manner. Let's break it down a little further:

The interactive image

This is what makes iFig Reader truly innovative. See the picture of the part you want? Click on it. It gets stored in the requisition queue. And the best part? You DON'T HAVE TO WRITE ANYTHING DOWN.
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Not sure that this is the right part? Take your mouse and hover it over the part. A tooltip pops up where your mouse is. This tooltip contains important and up to date RPSTL and catalog data.

You can configure exactly what elements you want rendered in the tooltip too. Want to know if the part is a Depot Level Recoverable? Simple. Just add it to the tooltip using the configuration utility. Want to see the unit price or unit of issue? You can add those too.

Demonstrating tool-tip configuration
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FedLog data
Want to know how much it will cost in repair parts to fix your HMMWV? Before now, the only way to do that was to look up each part in FedLog individually and keep a running total yourself, or you could wait for your supply clerk to enter all of the data into the maintenance system, and then print you a report.

 

With iFig Reader, this information is instantly at your fingertips. Not only does it tell you the price of each individual part, it also keeps a running total of all parts costs accumulated for that session and displays this information right on the main screen.

If you are an inspector trying to determine if the equipment exceeds its maintenance expenditure limit (MEL), this is an invaluable feature.

How session information is maintained in iFig Reader
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Where does it get the catalog information? It pulls the information right off of your FedLog CDs. You simply pop your FedLog CDs in your computer and press the "Start iFig Catalog Update" button built into iFig Reader. iFig Reader will read the data from your FedLog CDs and update its internal catalog. Its as simple as that. And the best part is that you only have to run this utility once a month - when you receive your disks. Using FedLog to update iFig Reader
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Where else is this catalog data used? iFig Reader uses this data right up front on the main screen. When you click a part in the RPSTL, the catalog data for that part is instantly displayed. You can even configure what FedLog data you want displayed in the grid. Want to see Phrase Code or Order of Use data? No problem.

 

Demonstrating tool-tip configuration
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RPSTL data
iFig Reader displays RPSTL data in an intuitive tree view. This information is synchronized with the interactive image display. Selecting a part in the RPSTL causes iFig Reader to highlight the image of the part. This is especially handy when a figure contains multiple quantities of the Item and you want to see where each part goes. Demonstrating RPSTL integration
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UOC data
Take a look at the HMMWV parts manual - Figure 30 Item 5. It's a shoulder stud used to mount the thermostat to the HMMWV engine. The problem? There are 2 different NIINs that you could order. One of the shoulder studs is compatible with 7 models of HMMWV and the other one is compatible with 29 models. How do you know which part to order? You have to look at the Usable On Code (UOC). Before you do that, you have to know your model number. Then you have to scrounge around the electronic TM until you find the page that cross-references the UOC to the model number. Finally, you have to go back to the RPSTL data until you find which of the shoulder studs contain the UOC for your model number. How error-prone is that?

 

With iFig Reader, you simply have to tell it one-time what model you are inspecting. It even gives you a drop down box of all models and NIINs to choose from. Once the end-item is specified, iFig Reader color codes the icons next to each RPSTL item. Parts with a green icon are compatible with your end-item - parts with a red icon are not. Now you no longer have to worry about manually cross-referencing your model number to some obscure code - iFig Reader does this for you.

Demonstrating RPSTL integration
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Groups and Kits data
Ordering a non-cataloged (meaning - no NIIN) part can really be a challenge. It's even more difficult when the nomenclature in the electronic TM tells you that the part you want is "made from hose P/N RB1450-1-4IDX1-D0D 2 inches long" or some other obscure part number. You can't order the part directly, and the TM doesn't directly give you the NIIN, so you end up searching through the TM looking for the next higher assembly's part number.

 

With iFig Reader, the cross reference is done automatically. When you click on any part, the requisition manager shows you not only the part you clicked, but also all next higher assembly parts. This saves you lots of time and eliminates any errors you might make attempting to manually cross reference to the next higher assembly.

 

Demonstrating RPSTL integration
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What about the reverse situation. You are thinking of ordering a parts kit, but want to see all of the parts that make up the kit. iFig Reader does this for you too. If you click on a part in the RPSTL, the display will highlight the part you selected - it will also highlight all sub-components in the display panel. Not only that, iFig Reader displays a grid of all of the sub-components. Like all of the other grids, you can configure the elements most useful to your needs. Demonstrating RPSTL integration
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Searching for a part
If you use the static image based electronic TMs that are out there - you know you can search for a part rather easily. iFig Reader makes this even easier. You can search by NIIN or any part of the nomenclature. You can also right click on any part and ask iFig Reader to show you every place in the manual that uses that particular part. Demonstrating RPSTL integration
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What do you do once you're done identifying your parts?
Once you have finished identifying all of your parts, you have a number of options:  
You can print a list of all parts in the requisition queue and hand this document to your supply clerk for manual input into the maintenance system. Though the supply clerk still has to type requisitions into the maintenance system, the requisition list has already been cross-referenced with FedLog (just in case there's been a replacement NIIN) - and is much easier to read than a hand-written form.

 

Printing a requisition list from iFig Reader
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You can export the queued parts list  to a MIL-STD-3008A compliant  XML file. This file can then be used to automatically upload parts requests into a compliant maintenance system.

 

Exporting a requisition list to an XML file from iFig Reader
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You can use the synchronization with host feature built into iFig Reader. This functionality bridges the data collected in iFig Reader with a legacy maintenance application - and is modular by design. What this means is that new bridge applets can be constructed as emerging maintenance systems are fielded - while maintaining compatibility with iFig Reader.

We are currently working with other companies to build communication bridges to a few legacy systems. If you have a requirement to bridge our software with your existing maintenance application, we can provide this service at very reasonable rates. Please take a look at our GSA schedule for more information.

Synchronizing with a host maintenance system
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OK - what's the Cost?
Point-and-click military parts manuals are very affordable - only $99 per Technical Manual (TM). What does that buy you?

  • You get a perpetual license to the entire TM. This license is for use on a single computer.
  •  You get access to our TM update repository for a full year. The iFig Reader program contains a utility that connects to and downloads TM updates from our website. We take care of making sure our parts manuals are kept up to date, and we publish those updates to our website where the download utility installs the updates on your computer. It's only $20 a year per TM after the first year is up. If you decide you don't want to renew your subscription, you can still continue to use the TM and iFig Reader.
  • The iFig Reader program will continue to work with your FedLog disks, even if you do not renew your TM subscription.
  • Like we said before, the iFig Reader program is absolutely FREE - as are all future enhancements to the viewer application. 
Still not convinced?
We put together a scenario that compares what a solder currently does to identify his parts requirements with what he would do using iFig Reader. You can take a look at that comparison by clicking here.

Better yet, why don't you download iFig Reader and try it out for yourself? It doesn't cost anything and you can see all of the features in action for yourself. You can try demo versions of ALL of our TMs (a demo version only renders the first 25 figures - everything else works just as it does in the full version) at no cost or obligation.

All of our point-and-click military parts manuals come with a 30 day money back guarantee - so even after you purchase a TM, you can still get a refund if you aren't satisfied.

Finally, we are continually adding to our library. If you like our technology but don't see a manual you need - just contact us . Chances are, if its a manual that's in high demand - we will add it to our library.