Configuration Control

Configuration control is the process of managing and documenting all changes to a product's baseline configuration—ensuring that only approved changes are implemented and that the relationship between product versions and their documentation remains consistent and auditable.

Why it matters

Without configuration control, organizations cannot answer "which version did we ship?"—creating liability in regulated industries and rework costs in production. Effective configuration control is the foundation of traceability, recall response, and continuous product improvement.

Cite this definition

Finocchiaro, Michael. “Configuration Control.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/configuration-control