EIA CMB 6-2

Description / Abstract: 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.