ISO/TS 29002-31: Industrial Automation Systems — Configuration Management for Parts Libraries

ISO/TS 29002-31 is a Technical Specification that establishes configuration management (CM) requirements for industrial automation parts libraries. In any large engineering organization, component data evolves continuously through new product introductions, supplier changes, obsolescence management, and specification revisions. Without a rigorous CM framework, organizations risk using outdated or incorrect component data in design, procurement, and manufacturing processes, leading to quality issues, rework, and compliance failures.

1. Configuration Management Framework

ISO/TS 29002-31 defines a comprehensive CM framework organized around five core functions: identification, change control, status accounting, audit and review, and baseline management. Each function is mapped to specific data model constructs and procedural requirements tailored to parts library management.

Identification: Every component in the library must have a unique identifier that remains stable throughout its lifecycle. The standard defines a compound identifier structure consisting of a supplier identifier, a manufacturer part number, and a revision level. This structure ensures that the same physical part can be consistently referenced across all systems and processes.

Change Control: Changes to component data must follow a defined workflow that includes change request submission, impact analysis, review and approval, implementation, and verification. The standard specifies the information model for change requests and change orders, including fields for change reason, impact assessment, affected items, and approval signatures. This workflow ensures that every modification is properly authorized and documented before being applied to the production library.

The business case for implementing parts library CM is compelling when quantified in terms of error reduction and efficiency gains. For a typical mid-size engineering organization managing 20,000 components, an unmanaged parts library may experience hundreds of data errors per month, leading to incorrect procurement orders, manufacturing rework, and delayed product deliveries. ISO/TS 29002-31 provides a structured approach to measuring and improving data quality, with defined metrics for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of component information.

2. Versioning, Baselines, and Audit Trail

The versioning model in ISO/TS 29002-31 supports both revision (major changes that affect interchangeability) and iteration (minor changes that do not affect form, fit, or function). Revisions are tracked at the component level, while iterations are tracked at the individual property level. This granular approach provides maximum traceability while allowing engineers to make routine updates without triggering full change management cycles.

Baselines represent snapshots of the parts library at a specific point in time. ISO/TS 29002-31 defines three types of baselines: development baselines (work in progress), release baselines (approved and ready for use), and as-maintained baselines (field configuration for installed products). Each baseline captures the complete state of the library, including all component versions, relationships, and approval statuses.

The audit trail requirement mandates that all changes to component data be recorded with timestamp, user identification, change type, before and after values, and a reference to the authorizing change order. This trail is essential for regulatory compliance in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, where component traceability is a legal requirement.

3. Integration with Engineering Change Management

ISO/TS 29002-31 explicitly addresses the integration between parts library CM and enterprise-wide engineering change management (ECM) processes. The standard defines how component data changes relate to higher-level change processes such as engineering change requests (ECR), engineering change orders (ECO), and product configuration management.

When a component change is initiated through the standard ECM process, the resulting data modifications in the parts library must be synchronized with the ECM system. This synchronization includes updating affected product structures, bill of materials (BOM) revisions, and procurement specifications. The standard recommends using a change effectivity mechanism that records the date range, serial number range, or lot number range for which each component revision is valid, enabling accurate “as-designed,” “as-built,” and “as-maintained” comparisons.

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