Configuration Management

Configuration management concerns the task to be in control of documents and product configurations.
When a major project is running with full steam ahead, configuration management is a challenge.
However, if safety was a house then configuration management was the foundation.

Interpretation

The quality of the configuration management is an easy parameter to sense for an auditor.
In organizations with strong safety management (high SIL), the configuration management is pedantic and without a hitch: Documents, Minutes of meetings and Changes on the product are controlled in configuration management systems with fields for unique identity, date, responsible, revision, documents to be updated and tests performed etc.

In organizations with a lower safety culture the configuration management is random and uneven: Not all meetings have a minute of meeting or maybe you hear a busy employee stating: "I do not have time for making registrations!"
Such a statement indicates low awareness of the traceability requirements of safety decisions.
It takes commitment from the executives to change a low safety culture into a high concerning the configuration management issue.

Next chapter >> 4.2 Failure Reporting and Corrective Actions (FRACAS)

Focus on the Source

From chapter 3, "Definitions", in EN 50126

Configuration management: A discipline applying technical and administrative direction and surveillance to identify and document the functional and physical characteristics of a configuration item, control change to those characteristics, record and report change processing and implementation status and verify compliance with specified requirements.

From chapter 5.3.5, "Within all applications of this standard, the following requirements are mandatory":
...
e) an adequate and effective configuration management system shall be established and implemented...

From TR50126 Feb 2007, chapter 7.1.2
Change Management is seen as a crucial part of the LC Phases 11-13 [Operation], as emphasized in Table 7, column D: "…strict Configuration Control is THE most important issue…"

The subject is addressed to the maintenance of the QM and SM Systems of all involved perties.

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Revision of the EN5012X suite

Mr. Mairhofer Stefan, Fachhochschule OÖ Campus Wels, has kindly send the interesting information below.

The slides were presented at a workshop regarding upcoming European standards in Brunswick in week 49/2008.

The revision of the EN 50126-suite will be updated by 80 people in Cenelec working group TC9X/WG14 from May 2008 to app. 2011.


Interpretation

As discussed in blogpost Welcome and How are the standards being produced; EN 50126, 128 and 129 have to be interpreted.

The coming revision will try to make the EN 5012X suite more coherent. For the pedantically person, the current versions of EN 50126:1999, EN 50128:2001 and EN 50129:2003 are inconsistent when they are read closely. Some of the issues will be handled in the next revision:

Example 1: EN 50129 states in its scope that it does not cover SIL0 systems while EN 50128 says it covers SIL0 systems.
Example 2: EN 50129 only covers the safety case of signalling systems, but it is used for all types of railway systems (e.g. trains, level crossings, etc.)
Example 3: The determination of a SIL level of a safety function requires long-haired mathematical exercises, which can cause misunderstanding.
Example 4: There are some inconsistency regarding the definitions (e.g. safety critical functions vs. safety functions).
Example 5: The European EN 50126 suite has to be coherent with the worldwide IEC 61508 because of the “Dresden agreement“.

The standards will be compiled into one standard as shown above.

Next chapter >> 8.1 Is the Quick guide on book-form different from this blog?

Focus on the source

Special thanks to Mr. Stephan Griebel, Siemens AG for his informative slides.



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How can I get a copy of the standards?

Check e.g. Standards at the Knowledge database at the Cenelec homepage.

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How are the standards being produced?

The standards are produced in "Working Groups" (WG) arranged by Cenelec. To become a member of a WG you must be a member of the National standardization Committee (NC). A company can register to become a member of the NC by paying a fee.

Once your company has paid the fee for the NC, you can enrol into a WG of your interest.
Each standard is - in principal - updated every 5'Th year. This means every standard has almost all the time an affiliated active WG, working on the next update.

It can be risky for the major players on the market to ignore the work in the WGs. - Imagine, a major supplier is developing a new Railway safety product (e.g. an interlocking system, a train,..). It takes 5 years and cost 15 millions Euro. Once the Company has finished the product, it realizes, a WG in the meantime has released an updated standard, which the product does not satisfy.

Every WG has an appointed chairman who organizes the work. Typically the group meets every 3'rd month in a major city in Europe. Everyone is seated around a table; the text is projected on a large screen. The chairman controls the keyboard; the standard is written as a "One-text negotiation". For example the chairman asks: "Which key documents are necessary in order to implement an adequate Safety Management System?"

Typically participants could be: Siemens, Bombardier, Alstom, Westinghouse etc. Other participants could be the Infrastructure owners, the Safety Authorities: French EPSF, German EBA; independent Assessors like DNV and Tüv; and the Advisors like Atkins.

Once the WG releases a version it must be formally be approved by the national committes.

If the WG agrees about a subject, it is formulated clearly in the standard; if they disagree, the standard will only contain some vague superior sentences like: "An adequate mitigation activity should be established...".

In the daily work you can then try to interpret and discuss, what is actually "adequate"?

Hopefully, this blog can inspire the interpretations.

Next chapter >> 7.2 Revision of the EN 5012X suite



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Mandatory EN standards for ERTMS

At ERA is shown a List of Mandatory EN Standards.

Please note

The listed standards are only Mandatory for ERTMS/ETCS lines - not for the national lines.



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