Web-Based Engineering Change Management

Abstract

Engineering Changes (ECs) are a kind of modification in forms, fits, functions, materials, dimensions, etc., of products and constituent components. Indeed, the agility of an enterprise of today is best demonstrated by its ability to manage changes efficiently and effectively, and Engineering Change Management (ECM) poses a direct effect on the enterprise's product development process. However, ECs involve considerable complexity, and recent investigations in numerous manufacturing companies have revealed that the number of ECs active at any one time reaches a level that makes management by a paper-based system and by an ad hoc procedure incompatible. Although sophisticated computer aided systems with comprehensive functionality are available in the market, such systems have not been utilised to facilitate EC management (ECM) activities. Indeed, standalone computer aided systems are limited in supporting the multi-disciplinary teamwork in ECM, especially when they are distributed in terms of location and time.