Abstract
The economic importance of applying computer technology to Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) data-base production is reviewed for the period 1973-1983. The growth in professional and total production staff is compared with the growth in the number of abstracts and subject index entries. The impact on timeliness is discussed. Two different and specific applications of technology to CAS editorial processing—online editing capability for abstracts and subject index entries, and the computer-based Author Index Manufacturing System—are discussed in detail. The introduction of online editing capability, coupled with continuing enhancements to the total system, has led to improvements in the productivity of the editing process of about 47 percent compared to the earlier manual process. Reductions in clerical support staff requirements are also discussed. Implementation of the Author Index Manufacturing System improved the timeliness of the CA Author Index and reduced production costs by eliminating much of the labor-intensive and repetitious work associated with manual editing of author names. CAS and users of its services have benefited from the application of technology to data-base production through increased staff productivity, reduced rate of increase of cost of services, improved timeliness, and improved quality of the services.