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Capture and control your DESIGNS!
Get rid of obsolete SYSTEMS!
Learn how to install and use 21st Century BUSINESS SYSTEMS, PROCESSES and TOOLS!
Save TIME!
Save MONEY!
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Heraclitus said: "Nothing endures but change". Configuration Management (CM) is the process of managing change. In the past, manual, labor intensive CM activities involving baseline capture and control with change approval and incorporation processes employing multiple forms, databases and meetings induced images of wasteful, expensive pillaging of program coffers to Program and Functional Managers. Thus proposals were often trimmed of CM-related quotes and activities even before the program or project began. This usually resulted in additional costs down the line from excessive changes to the design package, non-conforming hardware, repairs to or reworking of the product hardware and software, and failures experienced in product performance after delivery to the customer. In order to move away from this quagmire of inefficient CM processes and dismal attitudes about the CM discipline, many companies have embarked upon a journey to learn about the new, automated CM processes and tools or have begun an earnest foray into the procurement of a Product Data Management (PDM) system to solve their problems. The above statements might sound familiar to those of you who read my book, ‘Practical CM: Best Configuration Management Practices for the 21st Century'. Well, it should. That is the way in which I introduced the concept of ‘best CM practices’ and the transition from paper-based CM systems to automated CM systems. You might ask: "Why write another book about the same topic?" This is a fair question. The answer is simple. The topic may be the same but the manner of coverage, content, depth, and scope is different. ‘Transparent CM’ introduces an entirely new dimension in state-of-the-art technology and methodology for the Configuration Management discipline. While presenting on-site CM seminars to a wide range of businesses and government agencies, I observed many different ways that these businesses and agencies approached the tasks of trying to improve their CM processes and also procure and implement automated CM tools. During the interactive workshop phase of my seminars, I was able to develop a standardized methodology to establish ‘best CM practices’ tailored specifically for each individual business. My seminar attendees and I then utilized these ‘best CM practices’ as the basis for performing a PDM system requirements analysis. The data obtained from this activity was used to generate a detailed PDM system requirements specification. This document became the framework for the evaluation and selection of the most appropriate PDM system or CM tool to satisfy that particular business’ requirements. This methodology guaranteed that businesses would be able to control their own unique CM processes and not become slaves to the wrong CM tool. My purpose, therefore, in writing this book is to present this 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’. The order of presentation of the subject matter in ‘Transparent CM’ is designed to facilitate this goal. In some cases, the scope and depth of coverage for a particular topic may be greater than in ‘Practical CM’. In other cases, it may be less. I will, as appropriate, point to selected topics in ‘Practical CM’ (which I have included as appendices in 'Transparent CM') in order to provide what I feel is the correct coverage for a topic, where it is not within the scope of the main text chapters of this book to provide that amount of detail. ‘Practical CM’ stands on its own and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, as yearly updates are made available, either as independent supplements or as new editions. 'Transparent CM' is offered as an entirely new and independent book intended to provide the reader with as many of the advantages of the author's CM seminars and interactive workshops as is possible without actually participating in them.
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