MRO Configuration Management for Complex Products

Configuration management (CM) is an effective method for data modeling and change management in product development, but the study of how it can be adapted for complex product maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) has thus far been superficial. Research propositions are put forward on the basis of a literature review and verified by a case of a high-speed train MRO company. The findings show that CM can be used in MRO data management with adjustments in its functions. First, MRO-CM planning considers both multistage service and single-stage service to keep data consistent and continuous. Second, MRO data integration with the design/production phase should be considered during configuration identification. Third, baselines and change rules are developed for change control. Finally, status accounting and auditing can be repeatedly used in MRO data management. A systematic MRO-CM framework is generated to assist MRO practitioners in understanding the relationships among different MRO-CM functions. This paper contributes to expanding the theory of CM in MRO for complex products and provides an effective method for managing MRO data from systematic engineering insights.