Configuration Management—Why Asset Management Can’t Do Without It

Abstract

A clear understanding of the design status, the effect of any design change, and the performance of systems, equipment and facilities, is essential for effective asset management. Configuration Management (CM) provides a sound engineering framework for design identification, design change control, data management, and the audit of the safety status and performance of systems, equipment and facilities to assure their ongoing performance and safe operation. In this paper, the major elements of CM are explained. How a CM system can meet a number of the key requirements for asset management is also discussed. Two apparently disparate examples of the use of CM are provided: the first showing how CM can provide necessary data to assure safe and effective operation of military aircraft ejection seat systems, whilst the second outlines the industry requirements for the adoption of CM for the management of mine tailings dams. Properly implemented within an operation’s asset management system, adherence to CM can mitigate many of the risks associated with managing complex and safety critical systems (SCS) and provides a sound basis for business decisions that can assure capability. CM should be considered as an enabler for, and an integral part of, any operation’s asset management system.