Capture and Control Data in the
Global Marketplace - "Best CM Practices"
Configuration Management Books, Training Courses, Seminars,
& Consulting Services - PDM/PLM System Selection & Implementation
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If you want to have the latest and best CM
and PDM/PLM information plus the "best CM practices" methodology available and
currently in use by individuals, businesses, military organisations, and government
agencies worldwide, then this is your source!
"Practical CM III" and
"Transparent CM" are the CM and business communities' recognized guides for the
establishment of "best CM practices". They include all of the "how-to"
information for the evaluation, integration and implementation of the right PDM system or
PLM system necessary to automate the "best CM practices" for your unique busines
environment. "Practical CM III" includesLessons
Learned during the implementation and integration of the first major PDM system
in the US at Lockheed Martin.
Achieve your business
CONTROL - COMPLIANCE - COST goals:
Get control of your
operating costs
Understand the
Configuration Management discipline
Learn Basic and Advanced
Configuration Management processes
Establish 'Best
Configuration Management Practices' in your organization
Generate Configuration
Management Plans for your product line(s) and for your organization
Establish Configuration
Management processes that comply with CMM, CMMi & ITIL guidelines &
initiatives
Establish Product
Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Product Data Management (PDM) solutions in your business
Select the right
Configuration Management Tool or PDM/PLM system to automate your 'Best CM Practices'
Understand and implement
the new government and industry Integrated Data Environment (IDE)
Establish & maintain
control of your engineering hardware & software development activities
Author's note: I believe that you will find PCM III to be a
valuable guide for basic and advanced Configuration Management instruction. It includes
the entire contents of 'Practical CM' and 'Transparent CM' plus several new topics and
tips that will help you do your job better and establish 'best Configuration Management
practices' in your organization - Dave Lyon
PDM-centric
approach
Mike Tarrani -
Amazon.com Reviews
This is Lyon's
third book on Configuration Management and an extension of his Practical CM (ISBN
0966124820). The key difference between the two books is this one is more focused on
engineering development and reflects more of the author's ideas. The first book was more
influenced by MIL-STD-973 and the related EIA standard 649. This one does not conflict
with those standards, but does take a more real world approach, with a distinct focus on
product management. In fact, there is more similarity between this book and Lyon's
"Transparent Configuration Management (ISBN 0966124804), especially in the detailed
documentation of best practices versus current industry practices and the in-depth
treatment given to each stage of Configuration Management.
It is in the
detailed descriptions of the phases, and how they relate to product development, that
makes this book an especially valuable resource to anyone working in the PDM/PLC
environment. Each phase - identification, control, status accounting and auditing - are
covered widely and deeply, with best practices associated with each clearly identified and
explained. Different scenarios add depth to this aspect of the book.
Two areas covered,
transition to production and support, are unique to most Configuration Management books
that either gloss them over, or focus on, for example field changes and product
configuration, but do not devote as much coverage to these areas as they merit in the real
world. The coverage of software and firmware was a bit light in my opinion, especially
since most products have one or both as integral parts, but there are a wealthof other books that
cover those topics. It is interesting to note that this book's processes do align to SEI's
CMMI process areas for configuration management.
Some of this
material is carried over from the other two books, and there is definite overlap between
the Transparent CM coverage here and his book devoted to that subject. It does serve as a
nice binding and segue between this book and the one on Transparent CM.
Like Lyon's other
books, this one is a definitive text on Configuration Management and an important addition
to the body of knowledge.
If you invest in only one
book on the subject of Configuration Management this year, this is your best value.
Introducing an entirely new
dimension in state of the art technology and methodology for the Configuration Management
discipline - an exciting new book for the Configuration Management Professional:
The second book of the
Configuration Management trilogy:
'Transparent
CM: How to Get There'
Contains the latest PDM and
PLM Solutions for the 21st Century
by David D. Lyon
The much anticipated sequel to 'Practical CM' - the
Configuration Management community's favorite guide to 'Best CM Practices for the 21st
Century
Implementing a Product
Data Management (PDM) system is a foray into complexity for which most organisations and
people are unprepared. Throwing the latest feature-rich technical fad at old business
problems with glassy-eyed, optimistic zeal, later blaming any failure on
circumstances beyond our control, and moving laterally into the next project
assignment is slowly losing its appeal. Even information technology practitioners are
catching on to the woes of their ways, but youd be hard pressed to get one to admit
it.
Transparent Configuration
Management delivers
some great lessons, of which these are but a few:
1) There is a DNA-like,
intertwined relationship between quality and Configuration
Management.
2) The shortest route to
implement a complex system is to do it right the first time. The only short cut is to take
no short cuts.
3) Automating Configuration
Management and making
it more transparent is becoming a competitive advantage like 'supply chain management' and
'just in time'.
4) Aim to make the process
steps transparent and efficient for users; they do the right things right using the
fastest, easiest method and might not know it.
Transparent Configuration
Management is the
essential guide to implementing a PDM system. It presents a practical process, a
methodology for implementation, supplemented by checklists and templates. It sets the
readers foundation with the common, traditional definitions of configuration
management (CM). It takes us on a brief, often entertaining stroll through the history of Configuration
Management. Then it
asks you to ask yourself what you really need to do with this thing. What are your
requirements for a PDM system? What information must you capture, manage, and use? Who
authorizes product changes and how are those changes documented, communicated, and
controlled? Much of this data is required regardless of whether you use a PDM system or
what PDM system you choose.
After that you are guided
through PDM-specific functions to analyze the degree to which the PDM system satisfies
your requirements, off-the shelf. It guides you through PDM system evaluation, using
extensive checklists that you can readily apply. Finally, it brings you through
implementation and integration with other subsystems. Obviously, the book could not
consider all the technical issues of every reader, but the principals are firmly in place.
Very useful was the PDM Project Schedule that you could transcribe as the basis for your
schedule.
Transparent Configuration
Management presents
guidance for overcoming resistance to PDM and Configuration
Management in general.
It presents Configuration
Management best
practices geared towards Dept of Defence contracting, but you can easily read through this
and apply the material to any organization.
Transparent Configuration
Management is the
essential guide for anyone considering a PDM implementation, any Configuration
Management
practitioner, quality practitioner, or anyone involved in managing design and manufacture.
David Lyon clearly demonstrates that hes been there and hes packed a lifetime
of experience into this very important book.
TRANSPARENT
CM
Mike Tarrani - Amazon.com
Reviews
Mr. Lyon's earlier book,
"Practical CM" (ISBN 0966124820) is the foundation of this work, which extends
the approach - in the author's own words - to '[Presenting] unique methodology for a
successful evolution from today's CM practices to best CM practices, then on to the
implementation of a truly automated CM system in order to reach the ultimate goal of
transparent CM.'
This book accomplishes that goal
in every respect. After a chapter giving an overview of CM, the seeds of this approach are
planted in the chapter titled, "Transition From Current CM Practices to Best CM
Practices".
A clear approach, based on the
product data management approach within the CM discipline, is given. Included
are a distilled list of best practices, and flow charts of the associated process.
Chapters 3 and 4 cover a proposed PDM system in great depth. The requirements
are outlined in sufficient detail to both gain a full understanding of the scope of the
system, as well as to layout a fairly high-level system diagram if you were to build such
a system in-house. Since building a system is probably not cost-effective for most
organizations, Chapter 5 extends the requirements by giving advice on how to evaluate
tools and vendors, and to select the best solution within constraints.
Chapters 6 and 7 describe the
evolution from automated CM to transparent CM, which is the focus of the book. These are
followed up with a final chapter that ties up loose ends by addressing the people
dimension. Appendices A (List of Best Practices) and B CM Plan outline are invaluable, as
are the documents on the accompanying CD ROM.
This is an
outstanding book for advanced CM practitioners, especially those who have read and liked
the author's earlier book, and/or those who are seeking to improve an existing, stable CM
process.
Configuration
Management Training Courses and Seminars
Basic and Advanced
Configuration Management Training Courses and Seminars (plus Configuration Management
refresher courses) for both your Configuration Management personnel and your Management
staff
For presentation ON-SITE
AT YOUR FACILITY by Dave Lyon anywhere in the U.S. and Canada plus some countries
in Europe
These configuration
management training courses and seminars are tailored to your specific business activities
Save over 50% compared to
'public' CM training courses and seminars
Among Mr. Lyon's clients:
Pentagon, Military bases (US/Europe), Business and Industry (US/Canada/Europe), Colleges
(US/Europe), Government agencies (US)
Typical
comment from seminar attendee: I am very pleased to comunicate to you that all the
attendees to your seminar are very happy and they have told me that it was very helpful. -
Director of Training - Navantia shipyard, Ferrol, Spain.
Contact
the Raven Publishing Company for detailed training course and seminar abstracts,
availability and pricing.
Configuration
Management Consulting Services
ON-SITE survey and recommendations presentation
by Dave Lyon at your facility anywhere in the U.S. and Canada
For additional information, contact the Raven
Publishing Company