Library Management is an essential skill to master as this will be common to almost every thing you do where you have to revisit the files or send them to another application. Archival storage is essential for producing audit trails on forms and work instructions. A good way to look at this core discipline is to consider how important general file management is on a PC for locating program and document files used in every day applications. The Components Engineer’s library will include specifications. completed forms, procedures, test results records, compliance documents,environmental tests requirements, Reliability studies, Failure Analysis Data, Item Master, BOM, and Part Number Assignment records, part and assembly drawings, sample part files, supplier contact information, meeting notes, and project schedules. See the page “Tools-Software” under “Core Disciplines” for setting up the file management using software application tools.

Project File Notebook Open

The Components Engineer will be maintaining the Item master which is a complete data base of all parts and assemblies used by the company for production and sales. The folder set shown here is specific to a project and is used to quickly retrieve part specifications for every part used on the corresponding schematics. This file will be referred to many times during the course of the project lifetime as each part has critical para-metrics that go beyond what a typical SCD (Specification Control Drawing) may contain. The more complete the data in a project file, the faster the checks can be made against the schematic for accuracy of part selection and application. The project notebooks should be organized by part number class code so the actual part number can be retrieved quickly.

Part Number Project Files

One Part Number's specification page

Library Management and maintaining good project files becomes even more essential when there is more than one concurrent product under development. Sharing common data between projects can significantly help the buying operation and inventory management efforts by creating a “Preferred Parts List” or PPL. Sharing parts across multiple products may also speed up the design process by not having to spend valuable time and effort selecting and qualifying additional parts and sources. See Guidelines and Procedures for methods for creating a PPL.