The basis of Configuration Management is to do the following, more or less simultaneously:
- go through a formal process of revision and approval when you change any aspect of the part or document
- make a determination about the compatibility of the changed part or document with all the other Associated Documents (a specific term)
- determine if any of the Associated Documents must be revised to be compatible in form, fit, or function with the original changed document
- notify all parties who may be concerned about the change and get acknowledgment that change is implemented and obsolete documents or processes are withdrawn
- monitor the process to ensure all the changes work together
That may seem overly complicated. Let's explore a very simple change and see how the steps above would fit in.
One of my favorite examples I frequently use
(to carry a premise of saving on assembly cost) is switching from Phillips Head
fasteners to
Torx drive or square drive fasteners for more efficient assembly. (Form and Fit of thread profile and length are the same, fastener Function remains - service personnel may need notice to add
Torx driver to kit, but can replace with current stock of Phillips head)
On the surface, this is a simple change, but consider:
- organization needs to make a formal document change on the part, checking and approving the change.
- We check the compatibility with the mating parts, but we also have to
- change work instruction, assembly tools, inventory (use up old inventory first?), purchasing (same or different supplier? same or different price?), repair instructions sent to field personnel, pricing on the final product, advertising, etc.
- notify all parties - quality inspectors, assembly workers, quality inspectors at customer, suppliers, inventory clerks, repair stations, decide whether repair stations can continue to repair with Phillips head in inventory or must implement new Torx, decide whether recall is necessary to change out old parts,
- continue to monitor how all parties adapt to and implement change and decide whether further modification of any of the steps is necessary
All of us go through these steps consciously or unconsciously. The key is to do the steps purposefully and consistently and to record the steps as they are completed to assure optimum efficiency. (It would be foolish to scrap or sell off all the old Phillips head fasteners and order in all new Torx ones, only to discover no one had thought to order new Torx drivers.)
