I.2 Configuration Management Between Companies

Customers

Some companies have other companies as direct customers. In such cases, the customer's demand for configuration management may influence how the discipline is carried out in the delivering company. Typically, delivered products form part of components in other products the customers take care of themselves , or the customer takes over responsibility for the finished product.

A company is a purchaser of products, but it may also act as a supplierfor instance, of a requirement specification or components. The customer's attitude toward configuration management must be clarified where relevant.

Subcontractors

In some cases, subcontractors work for product-producing companies. The way the subcontractors perform configuration management may influence the way it's done in the producing company. Control of the subcontractors is a support function within software development and a discipline or process that ought to be present during a product's whole lifetime. It may be defined for the entire company, if the company has standard procedures for handling subcontractors. (This is not often the case.)