Author: Frank B. Watts
Copyright: 2000
Pages: 365

Description
Control of engineering documentation, sometimes called Configuration Management (CM) especially in the defense industries, is critical to world-class manufacturing survival. This new Second Edition of a highly successful engineering documentation handbook is one of the best blueprints for constructive, efficient EDC/CM ever published.

Use the Engineering Documentation Control Handbook to get on track right away and make the release of new products and their documentation flow smoothly and easily. The book is packed with specific methods that can be applied quickly and accurately to almost any industry and any product to control documentation, request changes to the product, make those changes and develop bills of material. The result is a powerful communications bridge between engineering and "the rest of the world" that makes rapid changes in products and documentation possible. With the help of the simple techniques in the handbook, companies can gain and hold their competitive advantages in a world that demands flexibility and quick reflexes—and has no sympathy for delays.

The new edition contains substantial additions worked into the book and several new chapters. However, the thrust of the book retains the same focus on basics, rules and reasons. The author emphasizes that EDC or CM must be recognized as a key business strategy, and the days of "throwing it over the wall" are gone forever.

Contents:
Introduction    What is CM
   History of Configuration Management
   Document Control Functions
   CM Functions
   Distributed CM
   The Manager's Job
Product Documentation
   Document Formats and Standards
   Document Signatures
   On Line Signatures
   Body of the Assembly Drawing
   Assembly Parts List
   Engineering Parts List
   Specification Control and Source Control Drawings
   Item Specifications
   Design of Process Specifications
Identification Numbers
   Product and Model Number
   Part Number Cycle
   Traceability
   Serial Numbers
   Part Number
   Classification Coding
   Changing the Part Numbering System
   Change Identification Number
   Item Marking and Labels
Interchangeability
   Interchangeable—Which Items
   Spare Parts and Assemblies
   Interchangeability Test
   Part Number Change Logic
   PCB Interchangeability/"Bug Fixes"
Bill of Material
   Design Engineering Data
   Marked Up Parts List
   Data Element Criteria
   Purchasing a System
   Bills of Material (BOM)
   Structuring the Bill of Material
   Pictorial Assembly Drawings
   Multiple Plant Build
   Ship Between Buildings/JIT/DFT
   Firmware/Application Software
   Modular Design
   Modular BOM Benefits
Potpourri
   Cross Functional Teams
   Team Make Up
   Design Responsibility
   Cognizant Engineer List
   Change Control Boards
   Fabricated Part Processing
   Process Document Control
   Push/Pull Document Distribution
   ISO/QS/AS 9000
Product and Document Release
   Life Cycle Phases
   Documents Tied to Release Phase
   The Revision Block
   CM and the Release Process
   Management of the Release Process
   Closing the Gap in Pilot
   Release Process Tasks
   Visibility
Change Requests
   Field Failures
   Reliability and Other Test Data
   Material Review Boards (MRB)
   Production Problems
   Can Anyone Originate a Change?
   The Request Flow
   Request Process Measurement
Change Cost
   Costing a Change
   Who Should Estimate Change Cost
   Cost Policy
   Cost Payback
   Dollar Approvals
   Charge Back of Costs
Change Control
   Deviations, Waivers, Off Specs, Etc.
   Urgency
   What Makes up a Change
   What Goes into the ECO Package
   Revision Drafting and Daisy Chaining
   Queuing Changes
   ADCN
   Customer Review and Approval
   The Effectivity Pipeline
   Disposition of Old Design Parts
   Sequencing Changes
   Status Accounting (Traceability)
   Change Modeling and Testing
Fast Change
   Why Process Speed Is Important
   Points to Measure
   Measure Volume/Reduce Backlog
   Fast Change Work Flow
   Work Flow Diagram
   Engineering Flow
   Configuration/Management Flow
   Manufacturing/Implementation Flow
   A Case Study
Process Standards and Audits
   CM Policy
   Typical Standard
   Subjects to Standardize
   Training
   Auditing the CM Processes
   BOM Process Audit
   Change Process Audit
Benchmarking
   Benchmarking Pitfall
   How to Benchmark
   Survey-Questionnaire Example
   Automotive Suppliers—Summary Results
CM in the Future/Summary
   System Standards
   Part Numbers
   Interchangeability
   Clear and Crisp Release Process
   Automation
   The Government
   ISO and Copycats
   Industry in General
Reference and Recommended Reading List
   Books
   Software Applications List
   Web Sites
   Articles

About the Author:
Frank Watts is a consultant with over 43 years of industrial and consulting experience. He founded his own company to specialize in configuration management. Previously, he held positions as Director of Engineering Services, Director of Operations, and Director of Manufacturing Engineering. Watts has also managed Configuration Management, Cost Estimating, Industrial Engineering, Test Engineering, Pilot Production, Manufacturing Engineering, and Repair Operations. He has also contributed as a Design Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Systems Analyst and Project Manager.

Watts has guided the development of the engineering change control process at many companies and made significant contributions toward improving the new product release process. He has installed MRP II systems, new numbering systems, helped companies attain a single BOM database and guided re-engineering of the CM process.