Configuration management in AS 9100

What is configuration management?

Configuration management controls how parts and subassemblies combine to form the finished product. It requires control of the revision and status of individual components so that the final configuration meets requirements. The approach should be proportionate to the organisation and its products, whether the supplier is large or small.

AS 9100D, Clause 8.1.2 sets out the configuration management requirements:

8.1.2 Configuration management

Plan, implement and control a configuration management process appropriate to the organisation and its products and services. It identifies and controls physical and functional attributes throughout the product lifecycle, including:

a) Controlling product identification and traceability to requirements, including implementation of identified changes.

b) Keeping documented information, such as requirements, design, verification, validation and acceptance records, consistent with the actual attributes of products and services.

Configuration management references

• ISO 10007 — Quality management: guidelines for configuration management.
• MIL-HDBK-61A — Configuration management guidance (edition cited in the original article).
• EIA-649-A — National consensus standard for configuration management (edition cited in the original article).
• ECSS-M-ST-40 — Space project management: configuration and information management.

MIL-HDBK-61A and EIA-649-A are retained as the editions cited in the original article. For implementation, check document status, editions and contractual or customer requirements. ISO 10007 provides configuration management guidance.

ISO 10007:2017

Practical implementation

Step 1: Identify the products requiring configuration management

Assembly products commonly require configuration management because multiple parts or subassemblies combine into the finished item supplied to the customer.

Step 2: Identify and control configurations

Identify finished products and their constituent parts by the applicable part numbers and revisions. Controls should cover the bill of materials (BOM) and documents used during product development and production.

Give each controlled item a suitable identifier and maintain its revision history and current status so that configuration information can be managed and traced when needed.

Step 3: Control configuration changes

Maintain a known, traceable configuration when component designs change. A change to the main assembly may affect one or more components; a component change may also affect the parent assembly. Assess the impacts before implementation.

Retain records of configuration changes and the associated approvals.

Configuration management brings together technical and organisational activities to establish and maintain control of a product and its configuration information throughout its lifecycle.

Managing drawings and configuration documents

For other parts, maintain the assembly revision specified by the applicable design data. Implement changes only through the approved change-control process. If your organisation or a subcontractor temporarily disassembles a product, identify its parts so that it can be reassembled correctly against the controlled design documents.

Internal product documents and drawings must reference the correct drawings and revisions for the relevant parts, assemblies and subassemblies.

Managing component configurations

During manufacture, assembly, packaging and shipment, identify parts against their applicable configuration. Identification must enable traceability to drawings and revision information that reflect the product's actual as-built state, including the subassemblies used.

Identification may use labels, direct marking or a controlled link to the relevant diagrams, drawings and other records.