Alignment and calibration experience under LHC data-taking conditions in the CMS experiment

Full achievement of the physics potential of the detector and timely preparation of results for conferences require a fast turnaround of alignment and calibration workflows. The CMS experiment has set up a powerful framework and infrastructure for alignment and calibration, which is based on dedicated skims providing a highly compact specific input for the various workflows computing the constants, and includes a prompt calibration concept which allows determination of highly time-dependent constants on the fly. The CMS alignment and calibration model has been commissioned step by step with cosmic muons and passed a main challenge with the first LHC high energy run and the preparation of physics results for the 2010 summer conferences. This article reviews detailed experience from this extended operation, including results from selected workflows.