Commercial Standards in Configuration Management

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Commercial Standardsin Configuration Management
12/31/2009
Vaughn I. McCall, CICM, SyTech
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A CM Horror Story

• Major Operator orders 19 articles
• Received 18, refuses to accept the 19th set
• Manufacturer provides technical support for each
  set in operation
• Problems encountered beyond simple tweaking
• More than 200 modifications needed

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A CM Horror Story

• Each article requires its on publications and
  documentation
• The original manufacturer and primary
  sub-contractor can not agree on who is responsible

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A CM Horror Story

• Amtrak is the operator of the High Speed Train
  Acela
• The Acela is a six car train set with 304 seats
• Manufactures Bombardier of Canada and Alstom of
  Paris.
• Both companies are ISO certified

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This procurement was basically a COTS
acquisition
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CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

• The new era of Commercial Standards

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CM STANDARDS

• ANSI/EIA-649, National Consensus for CM
• EIA-836, Consensus Standard for CM Data Exchange
  and Interoperability (to be pub)
• ISO 10007, Guidelines for CM
• IEEE STD 828-1990, Software CM Plans
• MIL-HDBK-61A, CM Guidance

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ANSI/EIA-649

• Document design consistent with ANSI and ISO
  requirements
• Provides an understanding of technical/program
  management principles
• Designed for widespread application

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EIA-836, CM Data Exchange

• Currently in its final peer review prior to
  publication
• Standard fundamental reference for
  business-to-business access, sharing and exchange
  of data
• Utilizes the eXtensible Markup Language (XML)

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ISO 10007, Guidelines for CM

• If you are ISO Certified you use this standard
• CM is a management discipline applied to
• HARDWARE
• SOFTWARE
• PROCESSED MATERIALS
• SERVICES
• RELEATED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

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IEEE STD 828-1990 SW CMPs

• Overview
• SCM is a formal discipline
• Baseline Identification
• Review
• Approval
• Control of changes
• Etc.
• Minimum required contents of a SW CMP

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MIL-HDBK-61A

• All DoD you must use this handbook
• Provides CM guidance information
• Assists in planning and implementing CM
• Supports acquisitions using performance
  specifications
• Closely related to commercial standards

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MIL-HDBK-61A (cont)

• Also contains the following
• - Configuration Management Plans
• - ECP Cost Spreadsheet Template
• - CM Guidance for COTs
• - ECP Management Guide
• - Configuration Audits
• - CM Standard Comparison Matrix

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MIL-STD-973

• Used for guidance only

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Abstract

• In this new era of Statement of Objectives and
  Performance Standards we must be diligent in
  applying achievable configuration guidelines.
  The government / contractor / sub-contractor
  relationships must take into consideration what
  standards we will work to. With the advent of
  the International Standards Organizations (ISO)
  the use of documented procedures (other than
  Military Standards) and especially the ISO
  Registration / Certification Processes, presents
  an interpretation dilemma for those not versed in
  these standards / procedures.
• Do we the government blindly accept that
  certification process? Do we (government and
  industry) accept a vendors certification to ISO
  standards or do we develop process to ensure the
  vendor is providing a product which has an
  effective CM process?
• By becoming versed in the available commercial
  standards available we can ensure that Quality is
  built into configuration as well as the product

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Vaughn I. McCall, CICM Vaughn is a Certified
International Configuration Manager (318) and
has more than 30 years in various aspects of CM
most recently he has been working with the Navy
(NAVAIR) in modification management and now
provides contractor support services as the
Configuration Manager for PMA261s USMC
Presidential Transport Helicopters (Marine 1)
used to support the President and other missions
directed by the White House. After retiring from
the USAF, Mr. McCall worked overseas for Northrop
(Iran), Lockheed (Greece), and Augusta
Helicopters (Saudi Arriba). Vaughn also worked
for several manufactures and defense contractors
in the US. Vaughn is currently employed by
Systems Engineering Technologies (SyTech) Corp.
and lives and works in Southern Maryland.