What Is Configuration Management (Aerospace)?
Also known as: CM, AS9100 8.1.2, EIA-649, baseline management
Definition
Configuration management is the discipline of identifying a product's configuration, controlling changes to it, and proving that what was built matches what was approved. In aerospace it is required by AS9100 clause 8.1.2 and typically follows EIA-649.
Configuration Management (Aerospace) Explained
Configuration management (CM) answers three questions at any moment: what is the approved design, what was actually built, and are the two the same. It rests on four activities: configuration identification (part numbers, revisions, serial or lot effectivity), change control, status accounting (a record of every approved and implemented change), and verification and audit (for example first article inspection and physical configuration audits).
Programs organise the design into baselines, commonly functional, allocated and product baselines. Once a baseline is released, any change goes through a configuration control board (CCB) that reviews impact on form, fit, function, cost, schedule and customer-approved data. Customers such as primes or government agencies often require their own approval before a change to a controlled item can be implemented.
AS9100D clause 8.1.2 requires a configuration management process proportionate to the product, covering identification, change control, and keeping documented information consistent with the physical product. In an ERP the building blocks are the item master with revision, the bill of material with effectivity, routings tied to revision, and lot or serial records that link as-built genealogy back to the revision that was released.
Where ERPs differ: SAP has a dedicated Engineering Change Management function driven by change numbers and change masters (transaction CC01). Infor LN carries engineering data in its Engineering Data Management area, separate from production BOMs. Infor SyteLine and many mid-market systems hold the item, BOM and routing revisions in the manufacturing module and rely on engineering PLM or document control upstream, so the discipline sits in procedures as much as in screens.
Why It Matters
- Shipping a part built to a superseded revision is a classic escape that triggers customer corrective action requests and rework of delivered lots.
- Auditors assessing to AS9100 expect to see objective evidence that drawings, BOMs, work instructions and inspection plans were at the same revision when a lot was built.
- Without effectivity control, a design change cannot be cleanly cut in at the right serial number, lot or date, so old and new stock get mixed.
- As-built records are the basis for field service, airworthiness investigations and recalls, so gaps in configuration data become gaps in safety evidence.
In Practice
Example: a bracket P/N 4410-22 moves from Rev C to Rev D because a bend radius changes. The CCB approves with effectivity at serial 0150. In the ERP, Rev D BOM and routing are released with an effective-from serial or date, Rev C remains valid for open work orders already started, and the shop floor traveler prints the revision. At FAI and at shipment, the quality team checks the work order's revision against the drawing. A common gotcha is a rework or spare-parts order that pulls the default current revision instead of the revision the customer's configuration requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AS9100 require for configuration management?
Clause 8.1.2 requires a configuration management process appropriate to the organisation and product. It covers identification of the configuration, control of changes, and keeping documented information and the physical product aligned throughout the life cycle.
Is configuration management the same as change management?
No. Change control is one part of configuration management. CM also includes configuration identification, status accounting and audits, which together prove the product matches its approved definition.
Does an ERP replace a PLM for configuration management?
Usually not. PLM or engineering document control owns the design definition and approvals, while the ERP carries the released revision, effectivity and as-built genealogy into purchasing, production and shipping. Both need to stay in sync.
Related Terms
BOM (Bill of Materials)
A BOM (bill of materials) is the structured, hierarchical list of components, sub-assemblies, and quantities required to produce one unit of a parent item, and it is the primary input MRP explodes to calculate material requirements.
AS9100
AS9100 is the quality management system standard for the aviation, space, and defense industry, published by SAE and the International Aerospace Quality Group, which incorporates all of ISO 9001 and adds sector-specific requirements for safety, configuration, and risk.
AS9102 First Article Inspection
AS9102 First Article Inspection is the aerospace requirement to verify that a production process reliably produces conforming parts by fully inspecting and documenting a representative first article against every drawing and specification characteristic.
Traceability
Traceability is the ability to follow the history, location, and application of a part or material through the supply chain and production process, both backward to its sources and forward to every product and customer it reached.
Routing
A routing is the ERP record that defines the ordered sequence of operations required to manufacture an item, specifying for each step the work center or machine, setup time, run time per unit, move and queue time, and any outside processing.
Go Deeper
AS9100 Audit Readiness Checklist
A 30-point checklist for AS9100 Rev D certification and surveillance audits, weighted toward the aerospace-specific requirements where auditors write the most findings.
Free ToolAerospace Supplier Scorecard
Rate a supplier across 10 criteria - OTD, quality escapes, AS9100 status, FAI performance, CAPA responsiveness, compliance flowdown, and financial health - for an instant risk rating.
SyteLine Serial Number Management Setup
Set up serial number tracking in Infor SyteLine including pre-assigned and post-production serialization, warranty tracking, and service history configuration.
SyteLine Lot Tracking Configuration Guide
Configure lot tracking in Infor SyteLine with step-by-step guidance on item setup, lot attributes, and traceability workflows for CloudSuite Industrial.
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