CM Trends 2023
Configuration Management Seminar, Workshops, And Training
SPEAKERS
Speakers, Presentations, Workshops & Schedule of Events
CM Trends 2023 Host and Emcee: Jeff Heisler, i-Infusion Inc and CMPIC
Speaker Bio: Jeff Heisler is retired USAF, and currently the software developer of Orpheus, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to facilitate and enable Process Lifecycle Modeling and Management. He is also a CMPIC instructor for Course 8, Software Configuration Management and the Platform Manager for TikTok’s learning platform..
He has spent the last 20 years developing software for the PDM/CM industry, and 15 years before that writing software for DOD’s Logistics Agency.
Jeff is also an actor and joins his wife on stage regularly at their family owned Heisler Theater.
"CM: Why Now and in the Future, More than Ever" by Larry Gurule, i-Infusion Inc and CMPIC
Presentation Overview: With the world evolving and continuing to get more complex and technologically enabled (AI, ML, Microelectronics, Automation, DevOps, etc.), how will we be able to progress with confidence with more and better CM as our foundation? This presentation will take a look at these trends, and how achieving them with the integrity desired is an impossibility without appropriate CM being considered and present.
Speaker Bio: Larry Gurule is the President of CMPIC LLC, lead instructor, and author of CMPIC’s course material. He has decades of experience in configuration management, including consulting, assessing, and teaching on the subject matter to a wide variety of organizations across the globe. Larry is an active member in the CM community and is Chairperson of the SAE G-33 committee.
Larry has decades of Configuration Management experience on hundreds of government and commercial projects including the DoD, tier 1 and sub tier aerospace/defense suppliers, electronic developers/manufactures, medical developers/manufactures, automotive developers/manufactures, and industrial equipment developers/manufactures, as well as numerous service/process industry technology implementations. He is an experienced consultant and CM instructor specializing in the methodical investigation, analysis, review and documentation of all or part of a business in terms of business functions and processes, the information used and the data on which the information is based. For use in process and knowledge driven environments, including acquisition, product development, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, retail, distribution, and sustainment.
Larry has a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, CMPIC Certification, CMSME, CMII Certification, CM Lead Assessor Certification, and CM Professional Certification. He is an active leader and member of American Society for Quality (ASQ) and SAE International. He has specialized training including Project Management, Configuration Management Professional Certification, Systems Engineering, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise, Lean Bill of Materials, Balanced Score Card and Activity Based Costing methodologies.
"Raise the Floor: Achieving better results with standards, policies, and procedures" by Jeff Windham, US Army Armaments Center
Presentation Overview: As configuration management professionals, our goal is to improve configuration management practices across the full spectrum of our organizations. Part of this effort involves crafting effective standards, policies, and procedures. This briefing will discuss better ways to approach the writing of standards, policies, and procedures with the goal of “raising the floor” on the effectiveness of our organizations.
Speaker Bio: Jeff Windham has over 30 years’ experience as a systems engineer and configuration manager for the US Army, Armaments Center at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. He is currently the chief of the Small Caliber Systems Configuration Management Branch. He has a Master’s Certification in Enterprise Configuration Management from CMPIC, is NDIA certified in Configuration and Data Management and teaches configuration management throughout the Army. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Mississippi State University and an MS in Business Administration from East Texas State University.
"Configuration Management: More Than Change Management" by M'Shairi Parks, Leonardo DRS
Presentation Overview: In many organizations, CM gets typecast into mainly change management. Configuration Identification may have more focus, mainly on revision or versioning (unless you have a diverse part numbering scheme). However, Status Accounting, Verification and Audit, Planning and actual management are often overlooked or playing minimal roles in an overall robust and complex office of configuration management.
With a push for quicker, faster, newer, better products with more innovative technology, if we fail to plan then we can plan to fail.
This presentation will discuss how all the functions are extremely important, and without focusing on them all we are doing a disservice to not only CM but to our organizations as well, even if they don’t recognize it.
Speaker Bio: M’Shairi Parks is a 45 year old single mom to 15 year old twins. She works for Leonardo DRS Land Electronics in the heart of aerospace and defense technology-rich in Huntsville, AL. The Land Electronics line of business provides advanced components and systems to address critical gaps and needs in platform and network capabilities, as well as field and sustainment level diagnostic tools. She has been with the company for 24 years and has been in Configuration Management for 23 of those years. She is the CM manager for DLE over her team that covers 2 sites, one team in Huntsville, AL and one team in Melbourne, FL. She received her Configuration and Data Manager certification from NDIA first in 2017 and renewed in 2022 and her SME with CMPIC in 2019.
M’Shairi started in CM with minimal knowledge and was unsure if this was the career path she wanted to continue down. She started with just working ECP deliveries to the customer and managing DRS electronic drawing repository. M’Shairi was instrumental in taking DRS from paper ECP and drawing deliveries to electronic deliveries with the customer and setting up a filing system for the electronic and master repository. M’Shairi grew to like CM and was well received by her internal and external customers. As times and technology changed, M’Shairi was instrumental in reviewing PLM tools and making recommendations to upper level management for the future of DRS. The team decided to follow another DRS site and go with Empower, then called Omnify, now owned by Arena solutions. They have been on the system for over 10 years and M’Shairi has been instrumental in bringing other sites onto the platform. She is now considered a super user and the lead administrator and lead trainer for NIS. Every division is now on Empower and we have also integrated it with our ERP system Deltek Costpoint.
M’Shairi has grown to love her job in CM. She has seen CM become well respected in her division and her expertise called upon in many different areas. M’Shairi believes CM is important to every organization and works to make sure the importance of configuration management is understood by every department. We are not just “paper pushers”. What we do is vitally important to our company, our customer, and the end user our soldiers. Without proper controls in place there is no control or understanding of your configuration, proper parts and supplies being ordered, or production lines being correct. CM is definitely not for the faint. CM touches and works with every department in the company and should see the bigger picture and help satisfy every teams needs. I may do the same thing everyday, but everyday it comes to me differently.
"AFLCMC Digital Transformation in Configuration and Data Management" by Rose Morton, Air Force Lifecycle Management Center
Presentation Overview: DoD Instruction 5000.88 “Engineering of Defense Systems” was released in November 2020 as the Systems Engineering component of DoD Instruction 5000.02 “Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework”. This instruction calls for a digital CM approach across the system lifecycle, and for a digital Authoritative Source of Truth (ASOT) in technical baseline management. This presentation addresses how the Air Force is managing digital transformation in Configuration and Data Management through development of an enterprise digital strategy and implementation guide, identification of tools and necessary process updates, and workforce enrollment and training to enable sound configuration and data management practices in a digital age.
Speaker Bio: Rose M. Morton is the Chief of Configuration and Data Management for the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In her fourth year of Center leadership and competency management, she is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Configuration and Data Managers across AFLCMC with knowledge and tools that enable thorough and reliable execution of Configuration and Data Management processes. In addition, she oversees a team of technical experts developing a Center-level Configuration and Data Management digital strategy and implementation guide that will assist managers across AFLCMC cultivate program-unique plans that align with organization strategy and digital goals. Ms. Morton’s previous leadership assignments include the Fighters and Bombers Directorate and the C-5. She has 13 years of experience as a DoD acquisition professional and holds advanced acquisition certifications in Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) and Production, Quality, and Manufacturing (PQM).
"Big Company, Bigger CM" by Susie McIlwain , Hitachi Rail STS
Presentation Overview:Susie will discuss the multitude of tools Hitachi Rail uses, reviewing the benefits and challenges. She will provide examples of large-scale rail and train projects and the struggles / triumphs of CM that surround them.
Speaker Bio: Susie McIlwain didn’t start out as a CM specialist. In fact, she went to art school. Her knowledge of graphic design got her started with formatting technical documents which lead to general document quality control and management at Union Switch and Signal. After changing hands and logos a few times, US&S became Hitachi Rail STS. Globalization and consolidation meant new tools and standardized processes, in some of which Susie was involved with learning, creating user guides, and training. Seeing the vitality of (and lack of management support in) Configuration Management, but lacking the language and knowledge to fight for it, Susie started taking CM classes. She is now the only CM Specialist for Hitachi STS in the Americas. Side note: over the 17 years she has worked at what is now Hitachi Rail STS, there was at one time an actual CM department, which was then removed during reorganization and budget cuts. Susie’s role as CM Specialist is considered a “new” or perhaps “revived” role in the organization (despite the fact she has been doing configuration management for years). She considers this a major triumph for the CM cause. Keep fighting!
"The Criticality of CM in the Era of the Digital Thread/Twin Enablement" by Peter A. Bilello, President & CEO, CIMdata, Inc.
Presentation Overview: Today, it is all about digital transformation, but it appears that many companies have forgotten that at the core of digital is data. Without the proper understanding, appreciation, and management of data, companies will fail in their digital initiatives. This means ensuring that the relevant data is always valid for use, and that the processes by which that is maintained can’t be circumvented. Like most technology enabled trends, there tends to be more hype than reality, especially during the early days of study and implementation. In the area of digital thread/twin enablement this is definitely the case for many. Many companies and individuals appear to be overlooking the fundamentals, especially the overall lifecycle data governance required to be successful. Such data governance doesn’t exist without proven and holistic configuration management roles & responsibilities, practices & procedures, and enablement. This presentation will seek to shed light on this critical topic, as well as position the fundamentals of digital enablement in the bigger context of CIMdata’s Critical Dozen that define 12 critical trends and enablers of successful digital transformation.
Speaker Bio: Peter Bilello, President & CEO of the strategic management consulting and research firm CIMdata—an internationally recognized authority on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)—has more than 35 years of experience in the development of business-enabling information technology (IT) solutions for research, engineering, and manufacturing organizations worldwide. He has participated in PLM analysis, selection, implementation, and training; CAD/CAM/CAE/CIM implementation and management; synchronous and lean manufacturing consulting; software engineering; and general data management strategy development and support. He has authored numerous papers and research reports on PLM and related topics, and his articles, commentaries, and perspectives have appeared in publications throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Mr. Bilello has been directly involved with consultation on the selection, integration, and implementation of large-scale PLM solutions. He has spoken on a number of different PLM-related topics in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Mr. Bilello holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in Physics from the California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Science in Engineering degree, in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, from The University of Michigan.
"Configuration Management Salaries – Benchmarking Resources" by Mike Treadwell, CMPIC Instructor and President & CEO, CM Advocates LLC
Presentation Overview: Many companies do salary benchmarking to identify the market pay rate for each position in their market. This process will ensure that their internal pay rates remain competitive as well as fair. Each individual would be prudent to investigate the CM marketplace to assess how you positioned relative to the market.
This presentation will highlight four websites that collect, analyze and display Configuration Management salary information. There are many variables that impact salaries – some of which are geographical location, education, experience, certifications, responsibilities and many more. By seeing these resources and applying them to one’s situation, you will be able to “benchmark” your salary against others within the CM discipline.
Of specific value to everyone would be the specific voluntary and anonymous/discrete collection and analysis of all present CM Trends attendees disclosure of their base salary, government or industry affiliation and any compensation related to CM certifications (CMPIC, CMII, NDIA or others).
Speaker Bio: Mike is a CMPIC Associate Instructor for both public offerings as well as on-site Configuration Management Courses. Principal, Configuration Management Advocates, L.L.C., a consultancy firm specializing in the training, assessment and advisement of configuration management and business practices
Mike is current President, Association of Configuration and Data Management, an international consortium of Configuration and Data Managers. Past Chair, SAE International G-33 Committee on Configuration Management
Mike has over three decades of configuration management experience in the Aerospace and Defense marketplace as both an acquirer (U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command and U.S. Postal Service) but also a supplier (Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Motorola, Lockheed Martin). Holds Configuration Management certification from National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the Institute of Configuration Management (ICM now operating as iPX) and CMPIC, including designation as a Configuration Management Subject Matter Expert (CMSME)
Mike is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School, attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and has been awarded the following the academic degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Earth Sciences – Towson State University; Master of Science in Management (MSM) – Regis University; Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering – University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Serves on the Board of Directors for the Literacy Council of the Eastern Panhandle (West Virginia), volunteers as a mathematics tutor for Adult Education - Jefferson County (WV) Board of Education and as a qualified driver for the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) in providing transportation to disabled veterans. Retired from the United States Navy with over 28 years honorable service.
"Identifying the Factors that Obstruct the CM Process and How to Overcome Them" by Dr. Manessa Threatt, DoD
Presentation Overview: This open discussion will identify factors that obstruct the CM process and examine ways to overcome them.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Manessa Threatt possesses 15 years of configuration management experience exclusively supporting DoD projects. Dr. Threatt earned her Doctorate of Business Administration (D.B.A.) from the Florida Institute of Technology. She earned her Master of Science Management with an emphasis in Information Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences with a minor in Business Management from the University of Alabama. She is also Project Management Professional (PMP) certified.
"CM and Digital continuity" by Harald Schwabe and Claudia Rosenberger, usb GbmH
Presentation Overview: Today's intelligent and networked products require the interaction of various components and systems. They are therefore often described as "Systems of Systems (SoS)". The individual elements of this higher-level system are typically developed in different technical disciplines and departments. These disciplines speak different technical languages and require different representations of the same product for their work. As a result, many versions and representations are created during a product lifecycle, tailored to the specific process needs of each user role for each product data. Storing the many different versions in the respective departments leads to separate silos in terms of processes and data.
Digital Continuity is there to bridge this disconnect and enable cross-discipline collaboration. Digital Continuity is the ability to have all the data about a product, system or infrastructure, throughout the various processes in its lifecycle. "Development - Production - Maintenance - Retirement and Reuse." CM is the discipline responsible for seamless traceability throughout the product lifecycle. Therefore, Data Continutiy is an important building block for complete Configuration Management.
Speaker Bio: Harald Schwabe is a CM and PLM specialist for design and implementation processes and database applications. He holds a degree in CMII and CMPIC CMSME from the University of Houston. Mr. Schwabe has been in the CM and PLM field for more than 30 years. Since 1994, he has been working for usb GmbH in various projects and programs in the aerospace field, such as Typhoon and Tornado and automotive. He is a trainer for several CMPIC courses in Europe and he is responsible for the CM-Experience conference in Germany.
Speaker Bio: Claudia Rosenberger is an IT specialist for designing and implementing database applications. She holds a Diploma in Computer Sciences from the Technical University of Munich. Mrs. Rosenberger has been working in the area of technical applications for more than 15 years. Since 2005 she has been working for usb GmbH and leading usb as CEO for the past 5 years. She is specialized on Product Lifecycle and Configuration Management as a Software Architect.
"The Importance of Why" by Bruce Littell, SensibleCM LLC and CMPIC
Presentation Overview: Tips on overcoming resistance to change at the enterprise and individual level regarding CM implementation.
Speaker Bio: Bruce is the owner of SensibleCM, LLC. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 through 1977 as a Poseidon Missile Technician and is qualified in submarines. Bruce retired from BAE Systems where he supported configuration management applications for the Navy strategic missile submarines, the Ballistic Missile Defense Office (now Missile Defense Agency), and the FAA National Airspace System, retiring during 2009. After BAE Systems he was recruited by the Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) command as the Assistant for US and UK Programs which included serving as the Configuration Manager for the US and UK Strategic Weapon System program and other US and UK related issues under the Polaris Sales Agreement.
Bruce retired from civil service during March 2019. He joined CMPIC as an adjunct instructor shortly thereafter. Bruce is a member of several SAE International committees including the G33 (Configuration Management); Systems Engineering; LCLS (Lifecycle Logistics Support); Enterprise Information and Data Management (EIDM); Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) P828 IPT; American Society for Quality (ASQ); and National Defense Industries Association (NDIA).
"SAE EIA-649C Anchoring Configuration Management in an Agile Organisation" by Susan Nel, SKA Observatory
Presentation Overview: The SKA Organisation is one global observatory operating two telescopes on three sites. Implementing the traditional rigour and discipline of Configuration Management in SKAO proves to be a unique challenge due to the confluence of several organisational factors. As a relatively new organisation, where international collaboration and partnerships are mostly in-kind agreements with a recent and growing number of contractual agreements, the collaborative efforts are varied and flexible. The historic informality of the development of radio astronomy instruments and the roots of an experimental science environment promotes a culture of informal organic development practices. Add to this the innovation and agility required to handle the deluge of big data with cutting edge technology, and the culture of groundbreaking exploration. These factors, together with the international representation and varied background of the workforce, compounds the disruptive challenge to implementing a systematic and coherent configuration management system. This presentation maps out the challenges and lessons learnt and illustrates how the SAE EIA-649C standard is used to anchor the Configuration Management activities.
Speaker Bio: Susan Nel has over 30 years’ experience as a Configuration Manager and consultant in Configuration Management and related disciplines in PLM, ALM and Data/Records Management. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree and is currently the Project Configuration Manager for the SKA Organisation. Born in South Africa, she performed configuration management on military armaments in radar systems; she also worked at the De Beers diamond company; and in the telecommunications facility management industry. Susan now lives in the United Kingdom.
"How Work Gets Done" by Richard Cashman, Cashman Training Services LLC and CMPIC
Presentation Overview: Everyone in an enterprise should be doing one of two things: writing down what you are going to do, or doing what you wrote down. Based on a paper by Leo Clark.
Speaker Bio: Dick Cashman is President of Cashman Training Services, LLC, specializing in training and consulting on Configuration Management and business efficiency processes. He is also currently an associate instructor with CMPIC with 28 years of configuration management experience.
Dick served for 23 years in the US Air Force as a Navigator in F-111 fighter/bombers with most of that time spent as an instructor providing technical training to aircrew. For the last nine years in the Air Force and for 19 years as a direct-support contractor to the Air Force, he performed Configuration Management and Requirements Management for IT-based command and control systems.
He received his certification in CMII from ICM and his Masters Certificate and certification as a Configuration Management Subject Matter Expert (CMSME) from CMPIC. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from Boston University with a Master of Science degree in Business Administration.
"Configuration Management in a Matrixed Organization: Challenges & Successes" by Tory Lynch, Configuration Management Team Lead/Surface Mine Countermeasure Systems Configuration Manager, Logistics Technical Data Branch, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, FL
Presentation Overview: The challenges and successes of CM in a matrixed organization.
Speaker Bio: Tory Lynch is the Configuration Management Team Lead for 10 Configuration Managers. Providing integrated logistics support task leadership for configuration management functions in a matrixed workforce for assigned weapon systems. Applying configuration management principles, concepts, and methodologies to a variety of complex development efforts across various programs and projects. Furthermore, he is the Configuration Manager for five Surface Mines Countermeasure systems with four years of configuration management experience.
Tory also has 24 years logistical experience serving in the US Air Force as a Material Manager. With experiences ranging from receiving and warehouse operations to supply support for F-16, F-15, and F-22 fighter/maintenance squadrons. He also held various management roles with the Air Force Logistics Management Agency and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate. He retired in 2016.
Tory received his Life Cycle Logistics Level II certification from the Defense Acquisition University and Masters Certification from CMPIC. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business and a Masters of Arts degree in Transportation and Logistics Management from the American Military University.
"It Takes Five To Tango" by Bas Berk, ADSE Consulting and Engineering BV
Presentation Overview: Ever wondered if you are fixing the right process at the right time? Join Bas on a journey in which he shares some of his observations during the development and implementation of CM processes.
Speaker Bio: Bas Berk is a Sr. Configuration Management and Systems Engineering consultant at ADSE Consulting and Engineering BV based in The Netherlands.
Bas has a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, holds the CMII-P certification from ICM, and is member of the SAE G-33 Configuration Management Committee.
He has almost 20 years of experience in technical consulting, and worked in a variety of industries such as High Tech, Aerospace, Railway, Naval, and Defense from both a consultancy and interim management perspective.
"Configuration Managers: A Tale of Two Perceptions”" by Leisa Lemaster, CM Training LML and CMPIC Instructor
Presentation Overview: This presentation explores not only how Configuration Management professionals view themselves but also the view professionals outside of CM hold of their profession. Supported by surveys, face to face interviews and questionnaires, this session will show how CM rates among company organizational structures, peer to peer assessments and management perception of the CM career field and those who execute this duty. Finally, recommendations for improving the standing of CM Professionals will be presented.
Speaker Bio: Experienced configuration management (CM) subject matter expert (SME) with 40 years of experience in Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition development, production, and sustainment programs, possessing unique qualifications, insights and understanding of CM, data management and data digital transformation. Experienced in both US Air Force (USAF) and foreign military sales (FMS) programs to include F-16, F-15, Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP), Global Hawk, MQ-1 and MQ-9. Principal author of MIL-HDBK-61B, Configuration Management Guidance, and major contributor to the creation and maintenance of industry standards governing CM—providing up-to-date solutions to current CM challenges. Active instructor for SAE industry standards to include SAE-649C, Configuration Management, and SAE-649-1A, Configuration Management for DoD Contracts. NH-03, Department of the Air Force (DAF) (Retired).
"CM: A Call To Action!" by Larry Gurule, i-Infusion Inc and CMPIC
Presentation Overview: This presentation will inspire all present to take the initiative to orchestrate, support, get leadership support, and evangelize more and better CM wherever possible!
Speaker Bio: Larry Gurule is the President of CMPIC LLC, lead instructor, and author of CMPIC’s course material. He has decades of experience in configuration management, including consulting, assessing, and teaching on the subject matter to a wide variety of organizations across the globe. Larry is an active member in the CM community and is Chairperson of the SAE G-33 committee.
Larry has decades of Configuration Management experience on hundreds of government and commercial projects including the DoD, tier 1 and sub tier aerospace/defense suppliers, electronic developers/manufactures, medical developers/manufactures, automotive developers/manufactures, and industrial equipment developers/manufactures, as well as numerous service/process industry technology implementations. He is an experienced consultant and CM instructor specializing in the methodical investigation, analysis, review and documentation of all or part of a business in terms of business functions and processes, the information used and the data on which the information is based. For use in process and knowledge driven environments, including acquisition, product development, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, retail, distribution, and sustainment.
Larry has a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, CMPIC Certification, CMSME, CMII Certification, CM Lead Assessor Certification, and CM Professional Certification. He is an active leader and member of American Society for Quality (ASQ) and SAE International. He has specialized training including Project Management, Configuration Management Professional Certification, Systems Engineering, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise, Lean Bill of Materials, Balanced Score Card and Activity Based Costing methodologies.