Tracking engineering change requests and ensuring successful implementation is a complex endeavor for businesses of every size. There are a variety of stakeholders involved in requesting, approving and executing change requests, making it simple for details to fall through the cracks. Fortunately, advanced business process management technology offers an opportunity to automate engineering changes, reducing the likelihood of errors.
The Basics: ECRs and ECOs
Most companies have procedures in place to request and enact process modifications, though levels of sophistication vary. These processes are typically broken into two parts:Engineering Change Requests (ECR) — Every modification begins with identification of an issue, and ECRs formalize the request for issue resolution. ECRs are the initial request for a machine design change to improve quality, remedy manufacturing failures, meet customer demands and similar. These requests go through an approval process that usually involves multiple stakeholders.Engineering Change Orders (ECO) — Once ECRs are authorized, an ECO is issued. ECOs are essentially the implementation of design changes requested in ECRs. All actual changes are documented until the change is complete. Examples include updated drawings, CAD files, standard operating procedures, and manufacturing work instructions.
Common Issues With Manual ECRs and ECOs
Any procedure that requires manual updating is prone to human error. ECRs and ECOs are no exception. Many organizations report frustration with current ECR and ECO procedures. This is usually due to the chaotic nature of gathering information from multiple sources and then distributing it to those responsible for implementing changes. It is nearly impossible to keep all stakeholders updated. And it is also difficult to track the various documents related to the modification. This is particularly cumbersome when there are multiple copies of materials, such as drawings, prototypes, and simulations.There is a lot of risks associated with engineering changes. Failing to recertify revised products in a particular market or making a small design change without realizing that companion component changes are necessary can lead to serious issues. That is why an orderly process for ECOs is critical for engineering companies. This allows them to ensure that the implications of the change are correctly considered by all affected stakeholders.Business process management (BPM) software can be used to streamline and automate portions of the ECR and ECO processes, and in some cases, it is possible to automate the entire procedure.
