Description / Abstract:
OVERVIEW
The overall business, engineering, and manufacturing environment
is moving from manual to automated systems. The
design/manufacturing loop (coding/testing for software) is being
integrated into a single entity and can become ‘paperless. CAD.
CAM, CAB. CASE and CIM systems are typical tools which reduce or
eliminate paper.
To adequately support automated design and manufacturing
systems, Configuration Management (CM) must likewise automate the
processes which record, move, protect, audit, and archive
configuration and technical data.
Since its inception, CM has been a manual process. Automation
has usually been introduced piecemeal over time in response to
specific problems and customer requirements.. To be most effective,
automation of the CM process should be considered from a system
perspective.
This guideline is not intended to provide detailed instructions
for implementing an automated CM system. It is intended to provide
a framework for planning the automation of CM functions by
identifying the issues and potential problems to be considered.
We begin with a look at the current problems encountered with
the use of manual and semiautomated CM approaches. In order to aid
in the cultural acceptance of a fully automated CM system. the
benefits of automation are reviewed and the issues of the
psychology of change are discussed.
Finally, this guideline focuses on automating the CM functions:
identification, configuration control, status accounting, and
audit. Given current technology and the constraints of available
resources, this section discusses some of the concerns which must
be addressed in order to achieve a successful implementation.