An approach to configuration management in the aero-engine overhaul process

Purpose: The functionality and reliability of an overhauled aero-engine is determined by all configuration changes in the overhaul process. Identifying, recording, auditing, tracking and tracing of configuration modifications are significant and meaningful. Considering the barriers to these goals, this paper aims to put forward an approach to configuration management in the aero-engine overhaul process. Design/methodology/approach: The overhaul configuration management model is proposed to describe an aero-engine’s configuration evolution trajectory in the overhaul process. The controlling and auditing procedures are put forward to control and audit parts’ return-to-zero statuses and overproof statuses. And some searching algorithms are also designed to enable tracking and tracing of the configuration status along the time coordinate, or get a snapshot of an aero-engine’s configuration at a certain time. The above model, procedures and algorithms have been implemented and adopted to fulfill the configuration management requirements in the aero-engine overhaul process. Findings: The approach is effective in identifying, recording, controlling, auditing, tracking and tracing configuration changes in the overhaul process. Practical implications: The approach’s implementation and adoption present a practical example for aero-engines’ configuration management issue in the overhaul process. Originality/value: The work proposes an original aero-engine configuration management solution for the overhaul process and enables a reliable and accurate configuration management mode.