Cengage Learning is a large educational publishing company that delivers customized learning solutions worldwide. To reduce costs, Cengage has automated the composition of 25% of its core print products using a repository of standard design templates called the Production Automation Library (PAL). PAL allows titles to be composed consistently at various vendors using XML files and InDesign templates. This automation reduces design and composition costs, speeds up production timelines, and creates reusable content while maintaining variation in design. Key lessons learned are that partnerships, an iterative process, and organizational culture change are important for successful automation programs.

1. Starting with XML:
The Benefits of Automating
Composition with Standard Stylesheets
Rebecca Goldthwaite, Cengage Learning
January 13, 2009

2. Cengage Learning Overview
Cengage Learning: Total Revenue $1.8B
Academic &
Gale International
Professional Group
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors,
students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. These
solutions are delivered through specialized content, applications and services that foster academic
excellence and professional development and provide measurable results to its customers.
Goldthwaite
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3. Cengage Learning Overview cont.
3,200 core Higher Education & Career/Professional titles per year across the
three business units
1,700 titles are outsourced
Disparate disciplines such as Math, Chemistry, Nutrition, Cosmetology, Fire
Science, Counseling, World Languages, Nursing, History, etc.
Currently automate composition for 25% of core print products
Rebecca Goldthwaite, Executive Director of Strategic Partner Management –
Production
Sourcing for print & digital production as well as conversion services
Manage vendor sourcing and contract negotiations for this automated composition
program
Jouve & Publishing Dimensions – stylesheet development and supporting
architecture/systems
Preferred production partners in India – composition & content conversion
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4. Production Automation Library [PAL]
Cengage Learning’s approach to automation through mass customization
The Production Automation Library (PAL) is a repository of standard designs
(styles/templates) to use in the automated composition of titles for print
production
Pre-configured CL text designs, complete with PDF samples, ready-to-use with
InDesign templates, accompanying fonts and design elements
3B2 stylesheets that produce consistent output at any composition vendor
Titles using PAL designs are produced using consistent, high-quality XML with a
proprietary CL schema
Status
19 stylesheets completed
149 titles produced or in progress
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5. PAL Workflow Comparison
traditional composition
non-PAL 3B2
PAL w/3B2
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6. Starting with XML – The Benefits
Reduced design costs
Reduced composition costs
Faster turnaround from sample pages to completed title
Standard designs that can be reviewed in PDF form for usability and content
appropriateness, and still allow a substantial variation in look and feel
Pedagogical structure that can be used as an authoring template or
guideline for new manuscript development and or additions elements
High-quality, consistently structured XML content that is readily reusable
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14. Starting with XML – The Cost Savings
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15. Starting with XML – The Cost Savings
Stylesheets
Simple = $550
Moderate = $1000
Complex = $1500
PAL = $5,000 - $10,000
Composition
$.50 - $4.25
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16. Starting with XML – Lessons Learned
Partnerships are important
Publishing Dimensions/Jouve
Collaborative production partners
Internal partners
It’s an iterative process
Approach to automation
Technology & tools change over time
There will always be challenges with technology & tools
Publisher-specific workflows & architecture
Composition platform decisions & necessary workarounds
Consistency & discipline are critical
Necessary to achieve cost savings
Designers, authors, developers, compositors, conversion vendors
Know your automate-ability
Standardization with flexibility [mass customization]
Author & publisher concerns regarding unique page make-up
Page make-up compromises
Culture change is key
Making the shift within an organization is necessary for buy-in
Programs are slow to start & even slower to be adopted
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