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Martijn Dullaart

Configuration Management is... Scalability

Configuration Management is… Scalability!

Configuration Management is… Scalability! Scaling an organization that delivers complex products—whether it’s an aircraft, industrial machine, or vehicle—is not just about producing more. It’s about ensuring that every unit and every process remains consistent, traceable, and adaptable as demand grows. Without a robust CM strategy, scaling leads to cost overruns, supply chain issues, compliance risks, and quality escapes. Why CM is the Foundation of Scalable Engineering & Manufacturing: Baseline Integrity Ensures Repeatability… Read More »Configuration Management is… Scalability!

Configuration Management is Continuity

Configuration Management is… Continuity!

Configuration Management is… Continuity! Products evolve, teams change, regulations change, markets shift— but continuity in CM ensures that knowledge, decisions, and configurations remain intact. Without continuity, companies face knowledge loss, rework, and inefficiencies when personnel changes or systems transition. CM provides a structured approach to maintaining historical data, ensuring that lessons learned aren’t forgotten and that products remain traceable over their lifecycle. Continuity isn’t just about keeping records or stability—it’s… Read More »Configuration Management is… Continuity!

Configuration Management is Visibility

Configuration Management is… Visibility

Configuration Management is… Visibility! Imagine driving through dense fog without headlights or a GPS. That’s what managing a complex product lifecycle feels like without Configuration Management (CM). CM provides visibility—ensuring that teams, stakeholders, and decision-makers have a clear line of sight into product configurations, changes, and impacts. It prevents costly surprises, reduces risk, and enhances collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and service teams. Visibility enables:Informed Decision Making – Clear, concise and… Read More »Configuration Management is… Visibility

Collaborative workspace

Managing Change Successfully in a Collaborative Workspace

This article is a response to the series of posts from Oleg Shilovitsky about Rethinking Change Management. It argues that a collaborative workspace is more effective than the classic file check-in/check-out mechanism for managing changes. Part 1: Orchestrating Complexity Across Systems & Disciplines – (Collaborative Workspace) Part 2: From Check-Out/In to Collaborative Processes, Single Source of Truth Part 3: Coexistence of New Architectures with Legacy PDM/PLM File-Based Revision Control Part… Read More »Managing Change Successfully in a Collaborative Workspace

Configuration Management is... Baselines

Configuration Management is… Baselines!

Configuration Management is… #Baselines! Let’s talk about Baselines. Imagine building a house without a blueprint. Each contractor works from their own notes, making changes as they see fit. The result? A structure riddled with inconsistencies, unexpected failures, and costly rework and delays. This is exactly what happens when organizations lack baselines in Configuration Management (CM). What is a Baseline?A baseline is a formally approved configuration snapshot at a specific point… Read More »Configuration Management is… Baselines!

Configuration Management is... Verification and Audit

Configuration Management is… Verification and Audit!

Configuration Management is… Verification and Audit! Imagine you’re managing a project – a new product introduction, a system upgrade, or just processing component end-of-life changes. Everything appears to be on track, but how can you be sure? That’s where #Verification and #Audit step in, bridging the gap between confidence and chaos. Ensuring every component of your system is exactly where it should be, and it is documented to prove it.… Read More »Configuration Management is… Verification and Audit!

Configuration Management is... Status Accounting!

Configuration Management is… Status Accounting!

Configuration Management is… Status Accounting! Have you ever tried to manage a project without knowing where things stand? It’s like driving a car with no dashboard—no speedometer, no fuel gauge, no idea if you’re speeding or about to run out of gas. That’s why StatusAccounting is such a critical part of ConfigurationManagement, as defined in the SAE-EIA-649 standard. So, what is it?Status Accounting is the process of tracking, recording, and reporting… Read More »Configuration Management is… Status Accounting!

Using the right Metrics in Configuration Management

This topic was triggered by Baris Kocabasoglu as he shared his experience on the use of metrics in configuration management during the December edition of the CM2 Congress. So for my first article of the new year, I’m going to explore the usage of metrics in Configuration Management.    Many configuration management professionals will recognize that senior leadership with the best intentions do not always choose the right metrics to measure the performance… Read More »Using the right Metrics in Configuration Management

The Future of CM – Achievements – 2024

We are nearing the end of 2024, so it is time to reflect on and recognize our achievements. On 10 January 2022, I started with a monthly newsletter, The Future of CM, which reached 2156 subscribers at the time of writing this post, which is an increase of 381 subscribers compared to last year.  This year the collaboration with Florian Böhme, Lucas Heckmann, Jean-Hervé Poisson,  Badia Dandana, & Chris Seiler continued, resulting in two excellent articles.  Next to the newsletter… Read More »The Future of CM – Achievements – 2024

Configuration Management is... Quality

Configuration Management is… Quality!

Configuration Management is Quality! Today let’s look at #Quality. Depending who you ask you will get a different definition of what quality is. Some would say it is whatever the customer says it is, but that makes it rather fuzzy. I prefer to state that Quality = Conformance to Requirements. Requirements are a good way to capture what the customer wants but also what your company wants to bring to… Read More »Configuration Management is… Quality!