There is a long list of variables that must be tracked in engineering change processes. The key to managing all of these variables is to properly manage the processes that control them. Business Process Management (BPM) software can play a significant role in production process management by simplifying and automating some aspects of the work traditionally completed by paper, excel, and emails.
Managing Human Roles in the Engineering Change Order Process
BPM is particularly effective in processes where there is a strict order of tasks that must be followed. When such processes rely on management via paper forms, email, or excel, gaps can occur. It can be difficult to track and understand if your process is working correctly with tasks being completed on time. A second common issue in these processes is the complexity of tracking process-related data. Perhaps the process is about making a change to a transistor or a smelting machine, or a piece of highly resilient glass. The point is that it should be easy to report against particular variables (i.e. fields) in the process. Often, staff members enter this information manually into spreadsheets, which is time-consuming and prone to significant errors. Managing the sheer volume of data generated daily can be challenging once it is stored in a database, creating a situation that discourages analysis and reporting.
BPM Software Solutions
Through the use of quality BPM software solutions, engineering change order (ECO) workflows can be automated. When employees have completed their portion of the process, they route the process case to the next task. The system then alerts the individuals responsible for the next step so they can take action. BPM software ensures that tasks are completed in proper order. Processes flow smoothly and in sequence with minimal gaps, and process maps define exactly how your process should occur. There is no longer a need to supervise individual employees at a micro-level. When BPM software manages processes, slow points can be identified and resolved using process drill-downs. Finding and correcting delays is simpler, and issues with employees skipping steps are minimized. There is no longer a need for employees to skip ahead since they don’t have to wait as long for the previous task to finish. Create reports to provide insight and analysis about the process to understand the time it takes complete assigned tasks. Supervisors gain the ability to compare the amount of time per task, per individual, per shift, and other categories to uncover ways to reduce time and waste.
