PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
Since receiving international recognition as technical experts in Configuration Management (CM), Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) personnel were asked to chair the revision of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Handbook, CM Standard Implementation Guide, or GEIA-HB-649A.
The SAE G-33 committee agreed that a collaboration effort with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) employees would foster participation in the committee, and the NSWC PCD team rose to the challenge.
Rich Bodine, NSWC PCD CM team lead, Jaime Raya, NSWC PCD configuration manager, and their team are leading the effort.
This handbook provides government and industry amplifying informative information from the SAE Standard, EIA-649C, aligned with the CM standard, with checklists, examples, samples, templates, and job aids that implement a CM process. It acts as a guide to implement contract requirements.
The team will be leading a sub-committee working group comprised of committee members, both industry, academia, and international partners to revise the handbook to ensure it aligns with and supports CM requirements for defense contracts.
Bodine said appropriately and timely incorporated CM will provide many added benefits to the programs.
“By incorporating adequate CM, our workforce will be better equipped to establish and sustain an authoritative source of information, collaborate across capability roles, functions, and systems; improve efficiencies, information flow, process effectiveness and product control; eliminate waste; and provide a leaner, more reliable, and resilient program or project,” said Bodine.
Raya said NSWC PCD’s involvement in this revision directly supports the NSWC PCD Strategic Campaign Plan and is aligned to the foundational lines of effort of the NAVSEA Campaign Plan to Expand the Advantage.
“We are supporting the revision of the GEIA-HB-649A handbook and the warfighter through our command’s strategic priorities,” said Raya. “This involvement allows NSWC PCD to demonstrate our ability to be recognized internationally as a technical leader, foster a culture of collaboration, and establish an enduring reputation for ground truth and technical assertiveness.”
NSWC PCD will be working with various government agencies, industry, and countries for this effort and will provide status to the SAE International Chairperson and NSWC PCD’s Integrated Logistics Support Division. This project will also ensure NSWC PCD plays a key role in the revision of an International Standard making NSWC PCD a world-class leader in the principles and application of CM.
SAE International is a U.S.-based, globally active, professional association, and standards developing organization, for engineering professionals in various industries.