The way that we generally work is as follows:

We agree with you what the manual should contain and design a template with your company branding using the agreed layout. This becomes your generic template.

Then for each job we talk to your client to find out what he requires and then customise your template to meet his requirements though he's usually happy with your existing template.

We then issue templates to subcontractors and / or gather information from suppliers and manufacturers and build the manual.

When it's complete and the draft versions have been adapted to accomodate any comments the final manual is printed and / or burnt to CD and issued.

In short, we agree the basics with you and your client and take on the manuals letting you get on with doing your work.