Original Date: 01/23/1995
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Sandia National Laboratories implemented a fully integrated Records Management System to maintain and track records of high reliability components and electronic assemblies used in space and military applications. The system, created to help track component and assembly lots, merges financial, procurement, design, assembly and integration, delivery, and quality assurance information. Previously, when a potential problem was discovered within a certain component lot, extensive searching through archived documents required days or weeks to locate the affected components. If already in service, the components could produce a reliability concern during the location and recall effort.

To address this issue, it was determined that the new database should be platform independent for access from any machine. In addition, to avoid duplication of effort, it was decided that all information needed to support product realization would be entered once, or electronically acquired and entered, at the most logical step in the manufacturing cycle. This data would not be re-entered and would be accessible by all personnel who required it at every step of the manufacturing cycle.

This system provides full and accurate traceability for procured and manufactured materials. To facilitate the exchange of information, the system is available via modem and Internet to allow employees at other locations and other companies to access this information.

The record center maintains and controls all information concerning satellite system design, fabrication, and test. Inventory control is enhanced since the system tracks quantities in stores and those on order to avoid duplication of soon-to-arrive components. Although parts in the system are stored at one location, part ownership is maintained electronically. The part cost and lot number are linked to the project to help determine project costs as well as the needed traceability.

This integrated records management system, developed to support the product realization of high-reliability space based hardware, has been very successful in many areas. It utilizes the experience and meets the needs of each person relying on the data collected to efficiently perform assignments, facilitate traceability and recall efforts, and allow for tighter inventory control.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.