Development of a catalog and a description model for methods and digital tools in Manufacturing Change Management

Abstract Today’s manufacturing industry faces numerous complex challenges, requiring companies to continuously adapt to external influences like supply chain disruptions, energy shortages, and skilled-labor deficits. Addressing these challenges often necessitates Manufacturing Changes (MCs), managed systematically through Manufacturing Change Management (MCM). Despite MCM’s growing importance, studies reveal significant gaps in the methodical and digital support for MCM processes, leading to inefficient and ineffective MCs. To address this challenge, this paper focuses on developing a catalog of methods and digital tools (M&DT) for MCM, structured with descriptive attributes to enhance the selection and application of M&DT in response to specific MCs. The catalog was developed through a three-phase approach, with attributes derived from the literature, an online survey, and expert interviews. The catalog and the associated descriptive framework were tested in a first industrial use case. In conclusion, the catalog developed in this contribution aims to guide companies in selecting suitable M&DT for specific use cases based on their individual requirements.