Taking the XML plunge

Kohler Plumbing America is flush with the success of implementing a new content management, workflow and publishing system. The XML solution from XyEnterprise handles all documentation for the company's line of kitchen and bath products.

"Manufacturing, packaging and shipping just one Kohler product—for example, a kitchen faucet—requires publishing numerous documents that incorporate data from a wide range of internal sources," explains Mark Peterson, manager of technical communications at Kohler. "This includes consumer dimensional drawings, specifications, care and warranty information and the instruction manual. The solution enables us to be more efficient in our ability to document and deliver our products."

The integrated solution combines XyEnterprise's Content@ content manager with XML Professional Publisher (XPP). Critical information from engineering, marketing and manufacturing is gathered in Content@'s single-source repository, according to a recent press release from XyEnterprise. All needed documentation is said to be assembled and published on demand via the XPP high-speed composition engine to produce postscript and PDF output. Real-time XML data, such as the latest product dimensions, are incorporated automatically into all documents, ensuring that retailers and consumers receive manuals and accurate, up-to-date warranty information.

Richard Pasewark, VP of sales and marketing for XyEnterprise, says the solution represents the move of consumer product companies to adopt centralized, XML-based content management and publishing infrastructures to help bring products to market and support customers.