Configuration & Data Management

Enterprise level Configuration and Data Management provides the backbone upon which Enterprise Management, Program and Project Management, IT Services, Software Management, Systems Engineering, Supply Chain Management and Contractual Requirements Management are built.

Configuration & Data Management - Value Transformation

CDM Managment

Configuration and Data Management processes were first documented in the United States by the U. S. Department of Defense. Out of these requirements grew much of what is found in ISO and GEIA standards. While the currently defined requirements matured over the last 70 years their history pre-dates the Phoenicians and China’s first dynasty.

Change Management

The commercial world is governed by market change dynamics that greatly influence CM considerations, but also the viability and sustainability of products and the infrastructure required to market and support them. This is a much broader application than strictly government considerations for systems and goods often driven by logistical necessity or by a response to international considerations.

Configuration Audit

The validation of the product and the process helps ascertain the abilities of both the product and the manufacturing processes to meet the expectation or defined project and business goals. This phase includes trial production runs, run at rate runs, Measurement System Evaluation, Production Part Approval, and much more.

Configuration Identification

Configuration identification is the process for discovering and categorizing the attributes associated with the hardware or the software. These are recorded and will comprise the baseline of the product.

Configuration Verification

The first U.S. Verification Model (V-Model) appeared in a proposal from Hughes Aircraft in 1982 for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s advanced automation system program. From the V-Model came our current conceptions of allocation, validation, and verification. Allocation assigns product requirements to systems and subsystems. Validation assures that the configuration was built to the engineering aka did we build it right. Verification assures all allocated requirements of a configuration have been met aka did we build the right thing.

Data Management

CM could not exist without its sub-element data management (DM). Although CM is most often associated with a product, DM is associated with every record in the company regardless of form or format. Data Management can be traced to the Samarian culture.

Planning and Management

Configuration planning is perhaps the most important aspect of a successful CM implementation. Not all configuration management activities are performed by an organization called Configuration and Data Management. To truly understand CM in the broader context, it must be viewed in relationship to the business as a whole, and at least a rudimentary grasp of the functional resources within an organization and their role as well as basic concepts regarding each roles primary function.

Status Accounting

Status and accounting is the activity involved in the collection, management, accounting for, and reporting on all of the information that is generated relative to a product regardless of source as well as data mining of that information

Configuration Management – a product management system that ultimately ensures product repeatability of performance, functional and physical attributes, by managing changes throughout the product development lifecycle.

    1. https://cmpic.com/

Configuration Management discussion with Kim L. Robertson and Jon M. Quigley in Eindhoven Holland, during the guest lecture series and configuration management conference at Eindhoven University of Technology February 2019.

CM Theory Practice and Application

Configuration Management Tales part 1 , Joe Dager and Kim Robertson

Tales of configuration management part 1:

Configuration Management Tales part 2 , Joe Dager and Kim Robertson

Tales of configuration management part 2:

Evolution of the product through configuration management , Joe Dager and Jon M. Quigley

Discussion of the role configuration management plays in orchestrating the functional and feature growth of the product through the development process and throughout the product life-cycle:

PM Chat podcasts:

A podcast interview with Jon M. Quigley who along with Kim L. Robertson have written the book: Configuration Management Theory, Practice, and Application!

Jon M Quigley discusses requirements and configuration management required for incremental and iterative product development and it is incumbent upon the project manager to have a modicum of understanding about this product management area to ascertain the level of risks to the project based upon the level of capability of the organization.

Available Soon!

Software Process and Measurement Cast podcasts:

The Big Picture of Configuration Management, Tom Cagley and Kim L. Robertson

Configuration Management is a common thread that ties the various departments and organization together, facilitating coordination of effort and is fundamental to product and human growth.

Product Development and Configuration Management, Tom Cagley and
Jon M. Quigley

Configuration management, the management, and control of project deliverable, is one of the most critical practices anyone building a product, writing a piece of code or working on a project with more than one person involved must learn or face the consequences!

Spamcast 380 – Kim Robertson, The Big Picture of Configuration Management

https://spamcast.libsyn.com/category/Configuration+Management

SPaMCAST 346 – Configuration Management, An Interview With Jon M Quigley

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0yNV2BTLZh5KNkUxf1hzZF

SPaMCAST 575 – Messing Up Agile Hybrids, Deming and Book Club, Essays and Discussions

https://spamcast.libsyn.com/spamcast-575-messing-up-agile-hybrids-deming-and-book-club-essays-and-discussions

SPaMCAST 552 – Fit For Value, Saying No, Essays and Discussions

https://spamcast.libsyn.com/spamcast-552-fit-for-value-saying-no-essays-and-discussions

Testing Prototype Wire Harnesses for Vehicles

Introduction to Prototype Wire Harnesses in Vehicle Development Creating and testing a wire harness prototype is a critical step in vehicle development. The wire harness is the vehicle’s circulatory system, delivering power and signals to all electrical components. When wire harness issues arise, they can disrupt vehicle functionality and compromise safety. Testing a wire harness […]

Product Testing and Verification: Power of Disproving Hypotheses

Introduction to Product Testing and Verification In today’s competitive market, product testing plays a pivotal role in ensuring product quality, safety, and user satisfaction. This process not only validates the product’s functionality but also exposes any hidden flaws, giving businesses confidence before launch. A critical part of product testing is hypothesis verification, a scientific method […]

Software-Defined Vehicles

The Rise of Software-Defined Vehicles The automotive industry is transforming, with Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) driving this new era of mobility. SDVs represent a shift from hardware-centric vehicles to vehicles where software plays a central role in controlling everything from navigation and entertainment to critical safety systems. This is not just a buzzword thing, but neither […]

Configuration Management, Tracking, and CyberSecurity

The Importance of Configuration Management and Asset Tracking in Cyber Security The security of systems and networks is more crucial than ever. With the growing sophistication of cyber threats, businesses must adopt comprehensive strategies to protect sensitive information. Two key components of a robust cybersecurity strategy are configuration management and asset tracking. Together, these practices […]

Configuration Management: Mastering Branching and Merging

Configuration management plays a key role in product development, including software development. Knowledge of branching and merging are fundamental practices that allow teams to work on multiple features, bug fixes, or experiments simultaneously without interfering with the main codebase. Understanding how to manage branches and merge changes effectively is crucial for maintaining code quality and […]

Limits of Testing to Standards and Specifications

By: Jon M. Quigley Introduction: Why Testing to Standards and Specifications Matters In product development, testing to standards and specifications is essential, but not necessarily paramount. It ensures that products meet regulatory requirements, perform as expected, and are safe for consumers. This approach provides a benchmark for consistency, allowing manufacturers to verify that each product […]

The Importance of Documentation

In the fast-paced manufacturing world, the importance of documentation cannot be overstated. Documentation is the backbone of product development and manufacturing, ensuring every step is traceable, repeatable, and optimized for quality. Companies risk inefficiencies, product failures, and costly setbacks without proper documentation. This article delves into why documentation is essential, the problems associated with inadequate […]

Projects and Product Management Modifications

Introduction In the dynamic world of product development, product management modifications are crucial, particularly when multiple projects alter existing products simultaneously. This post explores effective strategies and techniques, such as branch and merge, to ensure seamless integration and delivery of product updates.   The Importance of Product Management Modifications Product management modifications are pivotal in […]

Lab Testing vs. Real-World Testing: Understanding the Differences

By: Jon M. Quigley Introduction We watch Air Disasters on The Smithsonian Channel. You should watch the program to understand the root cause analysis. It is not just about root cause analysis but also risks and how circumstances and events stack up to produce unwanted results. A recent episode I watched was about Atlantic Southeast […]

Its been Five Weeks

A Song As I wrote this, I kept getting that song by Barenaked Ladies, One Week, going through my head. I have been working on the bassline for that song. My kid introduced the song to me some years back and just recently I thought about learning it. I’m very close. Estimating I have a […]

CMMI Tracking

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