ABSTRACT
This chapter considers techniques essential for modern reliability management. Configuration management (CM) is an essential part of modern reliability and maintenance management. The CM process is widely used by military engineering organisations to manage complex systems, such as weapon systems, vehicles and information systems. In civilian society, it is being increasingly seen to be an adjunct to planned and predictive maintenance systems. The main phases of classical configuration management are configuration design, configuration identification and confirmation, change control, status accounting and audits. The chapter lists the advantages of CM and presents a case study that emphasises that human involvement, interest and dedication to the CM culture are paramount. More important than any software is the human culture that must see that maintaining the configuration of the system, whatever it may be, is of paramount importance. The chapter also emphasises the importance of CM to both reliability and maintenance.
