Configuration change overview
A configuration change occurs when you modify component information that is subject to change control. You can apply change control to specific component fields and classification attributes. The fields and attributes that you designate for change control are collectively referred to as configuration information.
Types of configuration change control
You can apply different types of change control to the elements of configuration information at your facility. The type of change control that applies to each element determines the process you use to change that information, and the impact of change on the component record.
The following types of change control are available:
- Configuration change tracking
Configuration changes are tracked in the component record. This type of change control automatically applies to the fields and attributes that are designated as elements of configuration information.
Configuration change tracking can be used on its own, or combined with other types of change control. When an element of configuration information is subject only to configuration change tracking, it can be changed directly in the component record.
- Revision tracking
When this type of change control is applied to an element of configuration information, the revision number of the component record increments by one when the information is changed. In the context of configuration change management, record revisions are used to support configuration change tracking, conflict checking, and reporting.
This type of change control is by default combined by default with configuration change tracking. It can also be combined with approval-based change control. When an element of configuration information is subject only to configuration change and revision tracking, it can be changed directly in the component record.
- Approval-based change control
When this type of change control is applied to an element of configuration information, the information cannot be changed without engineering change approval. The approval process involves the use of a change or release record to plan, approve, and execute configuration changes. In the context of configuration change management, the change or release record functions as an engineering change record.
When you use a change or release record, you can create complex change events that include multiple changes for different components. All changes are tracked in the change or release record and in the affected component records.
This type of change control is combined by default with configuration change tracking. It can also be combined with revision tracking.
Configuration change settings
To apply change control to components at your facility, you must define configuration change settings. These settings define the fields and classification attributes that are designated as elements of configuration information, and the type of change control that applies to each element.
You use the Configuration Change Designer (Nuc) application to define configuration change settings. Settings can be defined at the level of system, organization, or site so that the scope and type of change control can be adapted to suit the requirements of different areas in your business.