reconfiguration

Reconfiguration is the process of altering the arrangement or organization of components within a system to achieve a different configuration. It can be planned or emergent and can apply to physical layouts, software and hardware architectures, networks, processes, or organizational structures.

In computing, reconfiguration often means changing system configuration to adapt to new requirements, recover from faults, or improve performance. Dynamic or hot reconfiguration allows changes without shutting down, using modular architectures, virtualization, and orchestration. It may involve reallocating resources, rerouting tasks, or swapping components while preserving core functionality.

In manufacturing and logistics, reconfiguration refers to rearranging facilities, production lines, or supply chains to accommodate new products, volumes, or constraints, aiming to increase efficiency, flexibility, or resilience. In communications and networks, reconfiguration adjusts routing, topology, or service placement to optimize traffic flow and fault tolerance.

Outside technology, reconfiguration appears in biology and materials science as structural rearrangements, such as conformational changes in biomolecules or phase changes that alter material properties.

Reconfiguration is often distinct from redesign or reengineering, which may involve broader changes to goals or fundamental architecture. It typically requires governance, testing, and change management to minimize disruption and ensure compatibility with existing interfaces and standards.