Package and Deliver the Product or Product Component

The packaging requirements for some products may be addressed in their specifications and verification criteria. This is especially important when items are stored and transported by the customer. In such cases, there may be a spectrum of environmental and stress conditions specified for the package. In other circumstances, factors such as the following may become important:

• Economy and ease of transportation (e.g., containerization)
• Accountability (e.g., shrinkwrapping)
• Ease and safety of unpacking (e.g., sharp edges, strength of binding methods, childproofing, environmental friendliness of packing material, weight)

The adjustment required to fit product components together in the factory could be different from the one required to fit product components when installed on the operational site. In that case, the product's logbook for the customer should be used to record such specific parameters.

• Review the requirements, design, product, verification results, and documentation to ensure that issues affecting the packaging and delivery of the product are identified and resolved.
• Use effective methods to package and deliver the assembled product. Examples of software packaging and delivery methods include:
  • Magnetic tape
  • Diskettes
  • Hardcopy documents
  • Compact disks
  • Other electronic distribution such as the Internet
• Satisfy the applicable requirements and standards for packaging and delivering the product. Examples of requirements and standards for packaging and delivering the software include:
  • Type of storage and delivery media
  • Custodians of the master and backup copies of the software
  • Required documentation
  • Copyrights
  • License provisions
  • Security of the software
• Prepare the operational site for installation of the product. Preparing the operational site may be the responsibility of the customer or end users.
• Deliver the product and related documentation and confirm receipt.
• Install the product at the operational site and confirm correct operation. Installing the product may be the responsibility of the customer or end users. In some circumstances, very little may need to be done to confirm correct operation. In other circumstances, final verification of the integrated product occurs at the operational site.