Configuration Management Principles Training

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Principles of Configuration Management Training Using the EIA-649 Industry Standard

Providing formal Configuration Management training for CM professionals has always been an integral part of sound management practices. Configuration Managers should be considered an integral part of the management team, often within Quality Assurance, and not just a technical lead within a product engineering group. The importance of this role continues to increase with the velocity of changes in a company’s product portfolio, workflow processes, supporting technologies, international markets, and business culture.

However, with the release of EIA-649 National Consensus Standard on Configuration Management, the emphasis in configuration management training as shifted to the contractor to develop CM training and processes that will implement good CM practices.

The CMstat Configuration Management Principles Training Course will provide a solid framework for the use of basic CM methodology in government or commercial design and manufacturing activities using the principles of EIA Standard 649, including the latest revision 649-C. This course is designed primarily to provide a comprehensive knowledge of CM basics to those with limited experience, or for those who desire an understanding of the application of CM.

Purpose of This Course

The purpose of this course is to introduce participants to the principles of EIA Standard 649 and to explain the activities of a comprehensive Configuration Management process which lead to both a quality end product, and the associated enabling life-cycle processes.

The course is designed to help individuals and organizations accomplish Configuration Management of a complex system within the framework of a new Configuration Management philosophy resulting from Department of Defense acquisition reform, the proliferation of information technology and the emergence of Industry Standards to replace Military Standards.

What Makes this Course Different?

Over the last 40 years, those in the Configuration Management field in government funded programs have led the way in the development and application of Configuration Management and the associated numerous specifications and standards. However, with the implementation of Acquisition Reform and the ISO Initiatives, the application of Configuration Management has changed. No longer will the ‘how to” documents e.g. Mil-Std-480, Mil-Std-483, Mil-Std-1521, etc. be applied to new contracts. Instead, each company will be required to work to “Best Practices” in the implementation of CM principles.

This Training Course will provide the basic fundamentals of CM and stress the CM Principles of EIA Standard 649 and its latest revisions.

In learning these important fundamentals and principles and how to apply them, the CM practitioner will be able to apply Configuration Management in the most cost-effective manner to either government or commercial programs. Since the “how to” documents will not be specified, the CM practitioners must, more than ever before, be well founded in the fundamentals, objectives and principles of Configuration Management.

Conferences and webinars are a useful means of imparting knowledge about a given subject, however it should be recognized that they are not a substitute for training/education. What makes this training course unique is that it can be designed to be the beginning of, or an enhancement to, your company’s own Configuration Management (CM) education program. CM is not accomplished alone, but rather, in conjunction with many other disciplines. The material that will be presented by our expert is suitable for groups such as Program or Project Managers, Systems Engineers, Production Management and other members of your Integrated Product and Process Development Teams.

Training Outline

Defining Configuration Management

A Practical Definition of Configuration Management
Evolution of CM-Past, Present and Future Elements of CM
Product Lifecycle Phases
CM’s Role in Program Management

Added Value of CM

Purpose and Benefits of CM
Objectives of CM
Guidelines to Implement Successful CM

Configuration Identification

The Hardware/Software Development Cycle
Product Information – Defining the Functional, Performance and Physical Attributes.
Allocation of Product Requirements
Part and Documentation Numbering
Engineering Release System-Recovery of Product Information
- Class Exercise: Developing a Product Structure-Decomposition of Product Configuration.
- Class Exercise: Different Numbering Systems – Document, Part, Serial and Lot Numbers.

Configuration Management Baselines

Baseline Management – An Agreed-to Product Description
How are CM Baselines Used?
Types of CM Baselines
- Requirements Baseline
- Design Baseline
- Product Configuration Baseline
Determination of Baselines – Where to Implement in the Product Lifecycle
- Class Exercise: Baseline Management – Demonstrate Product Maturity.

Interface Control

Identification and Control of External Product Interfaces
An Effective Interface Control Working Group
ICWG/CCB Control of ICD’s

Configuration Change Management

The Systematic Process for Changing Baselines
Interchangeability is an Important Factor
Purpose and Benefits of Change Management
Change Management is Managing Baselines
What does Change Management Require?
What is the Process for Changes?
The Role of the CCB –
- Who are the Members?
- What are Their Roles/Responsibilities
Processing Major and Minor Changes
What should the Process be?
What does “Total Impact” mean?
Variance to the Product Definition
- Class Exercise: CCB Operation-Roles and Responsibilities and Total Impact of Change.
- Class Exercise: Re identification – Hardware and Software Traceability.

Software Change Management

The Software Difference
Managing Software Libraries
Software Change Process

Configuration Status Accounting – The Recording and Reporting Process

An Information Data Base
Status Accounting Data Flow
Purpose and Benefits of SA
Impact of Product Lifecycle of Reporting
Types of Reporting/Reports
Considerations for Status Accounting System
- Class Exercise: Product Configuration Data – Use of Various Types of Product Information

Configuration Verification and Audits

Purpose and Benefits
CM Verification – Does Design Achieve Required Attributes
CM Audits – Functional/Physical Requirements
Performance Verification
Design Verification
Internal and Formal Audits
- Class Exercise: Requirements Verification – the Requirements Verification Matrix

Configuration Management of Digital Data

Principles for Data Integrity
Establish Business Rules
Apply Version Control

Configuration Management: Planning and Management

CM Application to Product Lifecycle
Tailoring CM Requirements
The CM Plan
- Core Elements of CM
- Level of Detail Required
- CM Plan vs. Operating Plan
- Key Program/CM Milestones
- Class Exercise: Configuration Management Plan – its Purpose and Contents

CM Training