Configuration Management is… Release!
In engineering environments, documentation is not just paperwork. It’s the foundation of product integrity.
- An unreleased dataset can’t be used for design.
- A dataset that is not effective can’t be used for production.
- Skipping these steps leads to compliance risks, costly rework, and program delays.
That’s why Configuration Management (CM) ensures the following principles are applied:
- A dataset must be released before it can be used to create new revisions or other datasets.
- A dataset must be effective before it can be used on purchase or production orders.
- A dataset must first be released before it can become effective.
Why This Matters in Documentation Release
Definition & Development
Before requirements, design specs, or test plans can be used, they must be formally released to ensure all stakeholders work from an approved baseline.
Purchasing & Production
Before production, testing, and certification teams can use the dataset to execute an order, it must be effective—meaning reviewed, validated, and authorized for operational use.
Change Control = No Surprises
Release too soon? And you risk errors and rework.
Release too late? And you risk delays and misalignment.
CM enforces structured release and traceability, ensuring the right data is used at the right time.
What’s your biggest challenge in documentation release? Let’s discuss it on LinkedIn!
Note: the CM is… series posts are not intended to limit the scope of Configuration Management but to create awareness of the breadth of CM.