FIX #1: Go Electronic
Moving away from paper-based engineering change, product development, and documentation processes frees you from the limitations that paper imposes. Cloud-based product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management system (QMS) software solutions are designed for real-time, collaborative change management processes.
FIX #2: Write Change Orders Clearly
Write change orders clearly, so reviewers and others understand them easily. The more time product teams and individual reviewers spend trying to understand an ECO, the longer the process takes.
FIX #3: Route ECOs Electronically
Once your engineering changes are managed online, tracking, reviewing, and releasing changes is easier to drive immediate product updates, especially with dispersed teams. A dynamic and flexible change process that allows you to get changes to the affected teams and partners will ensure you can grow and scale as needed.
FIX #4: Rely on a Single Source of Truth
Encourage your team to adopt your PLM or QMS as the primary source of information and integrate it into the company’s culture. This will simplify information management and remove confusion.
FIX #5: Accurately Define and Track Implementation
Getting all the details correct is critical to execute engineering changes flawlessly and consistently. When implementing a change, knowing who needs to do what, by when, and comprehensive follow-through makes the difference between a well-executed change and a costly error.
Define implementation tasks with due dates
Assign tasks to the right stakeholders, including suppliers, where necessary
Track task progress through to completion
Automatically issue task assignments and due date reminders to stakeholders
Make change task templates to ensure repeatable best practices