Why use the word Standards?

Because it is easier to say and because these writings include policy, procedure, forms, form instructions, flow diagrams and practices.

I’m in the process manufacturing business, not product manufacturing, will these standards help me?

Only partially and will require more editing.

How can they be “best practices” for all product manufacturers?

Each product manufacturing company will have different conditions regarding; current standards, practices, organization, attitude toward configuration management and their software applications. The standards will require editing in regards to those conditions. The standards, however, are based upon the authors work experience (5 companies), consulting experience (over 75 companies), seminar interaction (over 4,000 people from hundreds of companies), and three best-selling books in the field. That experience tells the author that the basics of CM do not change — unlike our product designs.

How can they satisfy the requirements of all commercial, military and international standards?

Allow this author to quote from one customer’s letter: “_______ would like to thank you for some of the best wisdom regarding configuration management. We were recently awarded several quality awards and received our IS9001 and AS9100 certification last month. A majority of our audit revolved a great deal around design and development control. We received 100% scores in these areas resulting from techniques we used in your book. We are an old but newly managed Aerospace company serving the world. Some customers are NASA, Lockheed, Airbus, Boeing, Raytheon, and Sikorsky. All of these companies have accepted our methods and most have commented that they wish their system was as simple. We feel confident that your ‘good logic’ will continue to grow our company for many years to come.”

Is there some redundancy in the standards?

Yes, to highlight important requirements when relative.

How are they best used?

Circumstances will vary with company size, age, extent of current documentation, company culture, management’s understanding of CM and goals. A new startup product manufacturing company, with some editing, can implement much of this “system” in total. Some will want to “pick and choose” among the many standards to enhance their system. If your company has a particularly troublesome process it might take priority, but the basics should always be put in place first.

In what order should I take on the editing/implementing of the standards for my company?

Start your standards by understanding the author’s “generic best of the best process” by reading Standard #47 – the Users Guide / CM Plan. You should eventually write such an “overview document / CM Plan” for your company/group. It can be given to anyone who asks; “How does the EDC/CM system work?”

If you do not have a satisfactory job description for your CM manager, edit the one found in the chapter on Company EDC / CM Policy and get management approval.

Then read and rewrite as necessary the standard on writing CM standards (#02) and then develop your acronyms standard and the definitions in Standard #48.

It is then wise to start from the “bottom up.” That is, begin with basics such as the policy statement, part numbering, interchangeability, etc. (Standards 01 thru 17). Rewrite them to suit your terminology, one at a time, and obtain approval. Get some successes under your belt and then move on to harder subjectsinter-changeability).

Obtain approvals from the highest possible management level you can interest in this project.

Next, ask yourself if you are going to document current practices or attempt to improve current practices in conjunction with writing the standards. It is often best to document the current process since very often the parties involved may not even agree on what the current process is.

Flow diagram the current process and draft an improved process work flow (Release, BOM, Request or Change). Use P³ — Principal of Planned Plagiarism — to develop your own version of that process. Write the supporting standards for that process.

How many processes are there in the “system”?

This author deems the Release, Change Request, Change as separable processes. The BOM-related standards could also be called a process but aren’t easily put into a flow diagram. The field change process is easily separated from the factory change as is done in these standards. So, the answer is: “Whatever you want them to be!” Divide and conquer when practical.

How can one show that implementation of the standards is effecting improvement?

Measure the processes as outlined in Standard ##46 and in the CM Metrics book.

What if, in some cases, I can’t “sell” the author’s approach?

Don’t belabor any given standard if you do not get management support. Move on to the next subject. Come back to that issue later.

There are many commercial, government and international standards that one must conform to, so what effect does that have on the standards?

The principles and practices found in these standards will almost always conform to those documents. All of those documents require written standards which must be followed in practice. Some terminology editing may be necessary. Take care to read those standards yourself rather than taking an auditors word for what they say.

The CM function is sometimes found in QA or Operations, how does that affect the standards?

In one case the author found the document control function answering to the founder/CEO. The only effect on the standards is organizational editing.

How can the other folks involved better understand the guiding principles behind the standards?

Study standard #1 Policy Statement. Read the Engineering Documentation Control Handbook. It is loaded with “Rules” and “Reasons.”

Why have a separate standard for requesting change than for making changes?

There are many reasons spelled out in the EDC Handbook — chief among them is that a different set of people should be involved in reviewing requests than in redesign, reviewing, approving and implementing.

What is the difference between “cost estimation” and “calculating”

The potential effective date or serial number has a significant effect on the cost. Once the effectivity date or serial is estimated, the cost can be calculated, and the potential cost will help determine whether or not the change should be made at all.

Why is the Users Guide also called a CM Plan?

Some military standards require a CM Plan. But this author thinks the better term is Users Guide.

Will my work last forever?

Expect that any standard may be revised/refined frequently and make provisions for doing that. After all, any process designed by man can be improved by man!

Should I expect the job to be easy?

Nothing in this world that is truly worthwhile is easy.