TS 13463

TS 13463 is a configuration management standard focused on configuration control for military system acquisition and on the handling of engineering changes, deviations, and waivers. Its core concern is the disciplined management of a product or system’s defined configuration so that necessary departures or modifications are reviewed, documented, and controlled rather than introduced ad hoc.

How configuration control works in practice

In general technical terms, configuration management identifies what constitutes the approved product baseline: parts, software versions, technical data, and related documentation. Configuration control is the decision and recordkeeping process that governs any change to that baseline. An engineering change permanently alters the product definition; a deviation allows a temporary departure from the defined requirement; a waiver authorizes acceptance of a nonconformance for a specific case. These distinctions matter because they determine traceability, approval authority, and the status of the delivered item.

Documentation and project context

This standard also covers the requirements, formats, and procedures used to prepare configuration control documentation. In practice, that means common documents and workflows for change requests, technical evaluation, approval routing, and controlled records. In multinational joint defense projects, such consistency helps keep contract requirements aligned across organizations and ensures that the configuration of each item remains auditable over time.

• requirements tied to configuration items procured for multinational joint projects
• procedures for configuration control and modification management
• formats and procedures for preparing configuration control documentation
• treatment of engineering changes, deviations, and waivers within a controlled process