Engineering Documentation Control Handbook: Configuration Management and Product Lifecycle Management, Fourth Edition

In this new edition of his widely-used Handbook, Frank Watts, widely recognized for his significant contributions to engineering change control processes, provides a thoroughly practical guide to the implementation and improvement of Engineering Documentation Control (EDC), Product Lifecycle Management and Product Configuration Management (CM). Successful and error-free implementation of EDC/CM is critical to world-class manufacturing. Huge amounts of time are wasted in most product manufacturing environments over EDC/CM issues such as interchangeability, document release and change control - resulting in faults, product release delays and overspends.

The book is packed with specific methods that can be applied quickly and accurately to almost any industry and any product to control documentation, request changes to the product, implement changes and develop bills of material.

The result is a powerful communications bridge between the engineering function and 'the rest of the world' that makes rapid changes in products and documentation possible. With the help of the simple techniques in the handbook, companies can gain and hold their competitive advantages in a world that demands flexibility and quick reflexes - and has no sympathy for delays.

The new edition sets EDC/CM in the context of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), providing guidance on choosing, purchasing and implementing PLM software systems. Watts guides the reader to harness these tools and techniques for business objectives including Process Improvement and time-to-market.

• Solid, pragmatic ideas for real product and process cost reduction. According to one reviewer: 'most books focus on the basics without examining all facets of each process area or functional area. This may be good for quickly learning, but it will only take the reader so far. Mr. Watts imparts the same information, but invites the reader to think and to consider strengths and weaknesses of processes and procedures. The copious examples, illustrations and breadth of topics covered make this book "the" reference on EDC and CM.'
• Strategic emphasis shows how processes may be integrated and tears down the 'wall' between Engineering and Operations
• Thorough description of Product Lifecycle Management software tools

About the Author

Frank is a product of a University of Illinois engineering education and over forty-eight years of industrial and consultation experience. He founded his own company to specialize in configuration management with specific expertise in product release, change control and bills of material and other engineering documentation control issues.

Formally a Director of Engineering Services, Director of Operations and a Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Frank has also managed Configuration Management, Cost Estimating, Industrial Engineering, Test Engineering, Pilot Production and Repair Operations. He has contributed as a Design Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Systems Analyst and Project Manager.

Frank has guided the development of the engineering change control process at many companies and made significant contributions toward improving the new product release process, installed MRP/ERP systems, new numbering systems, helped companies attain a single BOM database and guided reengineering of the CM processes. His industrial experience was with Caterpillar, Collins Radio, Control Data, Storage Technology, UFE and Archive. He has presented seminars on the subject to over 3,500 product manufacturing people. He is an NDIA Certified Configuration and Data Manager, author of several magazine articles and author of a book - Engineering Documentation Control Handbook third edition copyright 2008. This book has sold over 10,000 copies and, according to one reviewer, "Sets the Stage for Innovation.”