ABSTRACT
This chapter presents examples where lack of consistent enterprise Configuration Management (CM) implementation was identified as a root cause. The yearly quantity of mechanical, interface, electronic, and other CM implementation issues documented in the world press is staggering. The news coverage bears witness to areas where poor CM implementation or none at all has caused significant problems for the projects, products, companies, and industries. The development of a new classified instrument was being done on a very tight schedule in an integrated project team environment. Excessive change traffic and concept redefinition contributed to cost growth and eventual de-scope of the project. The automotive industry uses a production part approval process to successfully launch vehicle projects and to manage the changes to the product. An automotive development project with a multinational product development team was working toward a common target. A project's technical requirements were to develop a new electronic architecture for heavy vehicles.
