NDIA's CDM certification takes root in U.K.

• Author: Thomas, Richard C.
• Position: NDIA News

During the past few years, the National Defense Industrial Association has introduced to the United Kingdom the configuration and data management certification process. Among the first in the country to become certified was Dave McKee, of BAE Systems Ltd. He is now a member of the board of NDIA's Technical Information Division.

"The benefits of CDM certification are very clear to me," he said. "It provides individuals with a better understanding of configuration and data management so that they are on equal terms with other people in the field, wherever they are located, in Europe or the U.S." Also, he said, it provides the CDM candidate with contacts who can act as "sounding boards" and information sources for any CDM-related problem.

More and more clients are requiring contractor personnel to achieve a recognized level of CM competency, McKee said. "Within BAE, we are utilizing the NDIA certification to comply with this requirement," he said. "NDIA is rapidly becoming a highly recognized source of certification.

McKee--who has about 20 years experience in configuration management--learned about the NDIA certification program while attending a CDM training course in London. Later, he set up an NDIA certification program within BAE.

After 15 BAE candidates passed the exam, "I decided that it was about time that I got the certification under my belt, so to speak. I had seen the value of the certification within the company.

The two-day preparatory course "was excellent," McKee said. But the eight-hour examination "was a little unnerving," he added. "After eight hours, I was a little surprised that anyone could read my writing at all."

Still, McKee said, BAE officials now see the benefit of the certification process. "They are buying into it in a big way," he said.

BAE Systems held a CDM seminar at the DeVere hotel in Blackpool, McKee said. According to him, 95 people attended, representing all of the business units within BAE Systems.

McKee said that he hopes the Ministry of Defence soon will realize the benefit of certification for all of its contractors. "I also have been invited to attend a NATO conference in Brussels to present the company's CM education strategy and NDIA certification," he said. "With this small start, NDIA certification will head into Europe."

Richard C. Thomas, chairman of NDIA's Technical Information Division certification program

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