The product release interface: environment and concerns

The IBM early manufacturing involvement (EMI) strategy, which was introduced in response to increasing pressure for the faster development and release to manufacturing of more complex products, which has altered the way the different members of the product-release community interact. Discussed in this work, from the viewpoint of the IBM East Fishkill product-release organization, is the impact that the EMI strategy has had on: (1) the interface between product release and the external organizations which use the product release system; (2) the systems and activities within product release; and (3) the interaction between humans and systems in a product-release environment. Additionally, the product-release issues raised by EMI and the emphasis on more quickly releasing products into manufacturing are discussed.<>