The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:

determine the scope of the CM task and identify items for CM (CIs)

compile CM documentation from systems engineering data

establish and review configuration baselines during product development and production

develop CM plans

implement CM plans

review CM performance

establish and maintain CM status accounting databases and procedures

participate in CM audits and manage the remedy of deficiencies.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job, that is, the candidate is not in productive work, then a simulated working environment must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge.

Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure correct interpretation and application.

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only able to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Required skills

Required skills include:

identifying CM requirements for a product, including listing CIs

applying CM processes to the data produced through systems engineering

establishing CM baselines during product design and development

developing a CM plan

training organisation staff in CM plan implementation

developing CM documentation and related access, version control and security protocols

implementing and reviewing CM for a product

developing and applying CM status accounting and maintain baseline records

participating in configuration audits and initiate action to resolve deficiencies

inputting CM data to logistic support plans, where applicable

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

the use and application of CM in through-life management of product configuration

CM standards and procedures

relationship between CM and systems engineering during initial design and production

iteration of the CM and systems engineering interface throughout the product life cycle during modification development and configuration baseline revision

relationship between CM and logistic support requirements, such as providing data and updates for ILS plans throughout the product life cycle

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

CM context and environment

CM context and environment may include:

the nature of the products, such as hardware and/or software, complete systems and system components or subsystems

whether or not CM must extend to subcontractors and/or vendors

specific CM value adding functions and level of emphasis

contractual CM requirements, including specification of a CM standard to be applied

Relationship with logistic management systems

Data from CM documentation may be used in logistic management system activities, such as:

reliability and maintainability engineering

maintenance planning

life cycle costing

spares support requirements

technical data and publications

support and test equipment identification

determining facilities requirements

determining personnel training requirements

CM plan

The contents of CM plans may include topics such as:

brief description of system or top level CI and of the lower level CIs covered by the plan

list of reference documents (e.g. specifications, standards and manuals)

CM organisation and responsibilities

CM phasing and milestones

data management

configuration identification, including selection of CIs, baseline establishment, and configuration identifiers for hardware and for software

interface management

performance indicators

configuration control procedures

configuration status accounting procedures

configuration audit procedures

subcontractor/vendor control procedures

Systems engineering interface

Systems engineering processes result in the output of technical information that is controlled through the CM process. Through the service life of the product the CM process identifies the need for modifications and the systems engineering process is used to design and develop the modifications which then result in changes to the CM baseline and documentation which may then also feed into logistic support plan updates

CM standards and references

CM standards and references include:

EIA-649-A 2004 National Consensus Standard for Configuration Management

GEIA Standard 836-2002 Configuration Management Data Exchange and Interoperability

IEEE Standard 828-1998 IEEE Standard for Software Configuration Management Plans

MIL-STD-973 Configuration Management

STANAG 4159 NATO Materiel Configuration Management Policy and Procedures for Multinational Joint Projects

STANAG 4427Introduction of Allied Configuration Management Publications

IEEE Standard 1042-1987 IEEE Guide to Software Configuration Management

MIL-HDBK-61A Configuration Management Guidance

10007 Quality management – Guidelines for configuration management

GEIA-HB-649 Implementation Guide for Configuration Management

EIA-836 Consensus Standard for Configuration Management Data Exchange and Interoperability

ANSI/EIA-632-1998 Processes for Engineering a System