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CHAPTER X: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
PART A: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Purpose: Configuration management (CM) is a program management discipline comprised of the combined and
systematic application of the following four elements: 1) Configuration Identification; 2) Configuration Audits;
3) Configuration Control; and 4) Configuration Status Accounting. The purpose of CM is to provide an
accurate systematic means for documenting and controlling the engineering design of material items so that
contract requirements, operational readiness, logistics and life cycle costs can be properly regulated. Depending
upon the complexity of the material item being acquired and the approved acquisition and logistics strategies
involved, the application of CM can be rather simple or it can warrant the institution of an elaborate program.
Configuration management, applied over the life cycle of a product, provides visibility and control of its
performance, functional and physical attributes. Configuration management verifies that a product performs as
intended, and is identified and documented in sufficient detail to support its projected life cycle (i.e., fabrication or
production, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and disposal). The configuration management process
facilitates orderly management of product change for such beneficial purposes as to revise capability; improve
performance, reliability or maintainability; extend life; reduce cost; or to correct defects. The relatively minimal
cost of implementing configuration management is returned by ten-fold in cost avoidance. The lack of
configuration management, or its ineffectual implementation, can be very expensive and sometimes can have such
catastrophic consequences as failure of equipment or loss of life.
Source Documentation and Guidance: DoD 5000.2R, Mandatory Procedures for Major Defense Acquisition
Programs (MDAPs) and Major Automated Information System (MAIS) Acquisition Programs of 15 Mar 1996;
MIL-STD-973 Notice III (when contractually invoked), of 13 Jan 1995; NAVAIRINST 4130.1C, NAVAIR
Configuration Management Manual, of 31 Jan 1992; and EIA/IS-649, approved for use by OSD (ASN/RDA) in
May of 1997.
When Required: CM is required throughout the life-cycle of a material item. This includes: Concept
Exploration; Program Definition and Risk Reduction; Engineering and Manufacturing Development; Production;
Fielding/Deployment, Operational Support, replacement and disposal..
Background: The planning, application and tailoring of CM Requirements for each material being procured is to
be documented in a CM plan prepared by the designated Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) i.e. program
/project/acquisition manager). CM plans are treated as living documents and are revised as may be dictated by the
life cycle acquisition requirements of the item. Approved CM plans and the establishment of Change Control
Boards (CCBs) provide the critical foundation for a successful CM program. The designated OPR must work
closely with the Command's CM competency office (AIR-1.3.3) to ensure cognizant CM plans and associated
contract requirements are sufficient.
Critical Elements: Configuration identification defines the functional and physical characteristics of the material
item(s) being procured. Configuration audits are used to verify that the material item(s) and its configuration
documentation is accurate, complete and will satisfy total program needs. Configuration control is used to regulate
design changes primarily through the engineering change proposal (ECP) process under CCB approval authority.
Configuration status accounting is used to record the implementation of approved changes to a material item and
its configuration documentation. All four of these CM elements are critical to establishing a successful CM
program. The success of a CM program is largely dependent upon the extent of planning and the initial CM
contract statement of work (SOW). A special Section "H" contract clause, entitled "Configuration Control
Procedures", is applicable to NAVAIR contracts and is available from NAVAIR Contracts or AIR-1.3.3.
Responsibilities: AIR-1.3.3 is responsible for developing and maintaining CM policy and procedures governing
the Command's CM program. AIR-1.3.3 is also responsible for the administration and evaluation (process,
procedures, training qualifications, etc.) of all decentralized CCBs.
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