Practical CM: Best Configuration Management Practices for the 21st Century - Softcover

Lyon, David Douglas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966124847 ISBN 13: 9780966124842

Publisher: Raven Pub Co, 1999

Synopsis

Practical CM: Best Configuration Management Practices for the 21st Century presents both basic and advanced CM instruction. This book includes money-saving CM control methodologies and provides how-to guidelines for the transition from paper-based CM systems to electronic Product Data Management (PDM) systems. It guides the CM practitioner through the establishment of a CM system and CM processes appropriate for the transition into the 21st Century.

Practical CM portrays the profession of Configuration management in its proper business perspective. Included in its pages is the information necessary for the reader to establish appropriate CM/DM controls for the effective management of his designs and the efficient control of his hardware and software products. The methodologies, processes and procedures provided herein will also assure that the readers business remains compliant with current and future customer requirements, while operating in a cost effective manner for the entire product life cycle. These systems described therein have been implemented in a major operating unit of a large international corporation and have withstood the test of real world operation.

Includes Year 2002 updates.

About this title

About the Author

The author, David D. Lyon, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He has worked in industry for thirty nine years, primarily in the fields of Project Engineering and Configuration Management (CM). He is the author of Practical CM: Best Configuration Management Practices for the 21st Century and Practical Project: Guidelines for Project Engineers and Program Managers. A third book, Practical Proposal, is a work in progress.

Mr. Lyon has presented national seminars on Configuration Management and has also provided consulting services to clients engaged in the transition from paper based CM systems to electronic Product Data Management (PDM) systems.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION Configuration Management (CM) today is a struggle, both for those who are trying to impose some degree of control over the design, production and support phases of programs and for those who are trying to resist CM in a misguided attempt to save time and money.

Each element of CM, i.e., Identification, Change Control, Status Accounting, and Audits is inexorably linked to and interwoven with Engineering design methodologies plus Quality Assurance inspections and audits and Manufacturing production processes, no matter how simple or complex the program, and is thus integral to the process.

Tradeoffs exist every step along the way. These tradeoffs involve cost versus control of the design and visibility into how the hardware and software products relate to the design at any given point in time.

Manual, labor intensive CM activities involving baseline capture and control with change approval and incorporation processes employing multiple forms, databases and meetings induce images of wasteful, expensive pillaging of program coffers to Program and Functional Managers.

Thus proposals are often trimmed of CM-related quotes and activities even before the program or project begins. This usually results in additional costs down the line from excessive changes to the design package, non-conforming hardware, repairs to or reworking of the product hardware and software, and failures experienced in product performance after delivery to the customer.

Take heart, though. Help is on the way!

For each specific CM activity, we will first examine the conventional, classical CM as it is practiced today in large businesses and corporations. Next we will implement, in a step-by-step manner, those processes necessary to achieve our ultimate goals.

Edition details

• Publisher: Raven Pub Co
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0966124847
• ISBN 13: 9780966124842
• Binding: Plastic Comb
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 260