Integrated engineering change management framework for efficient information flow to product design systems

Abstract Product-centered business organizations are reliant on efficient engineering design processes to minimize product development and engineering lead times, costs, and waste. This study finds that the bulk of these issues are a result of an apparent lack of supply chain integration with design systems, standardized data collection procedures, propagation analysis, and strict validation. A systematic literature review is conducted to find rationale as to why current Engineering Change Management (ECM) systems are inefficient, and subsequently, consolidate the state-of-the-art in methods aimed at improving the competency of current ECM systems. The results of this study recognize a research gap and necessity for a combined solution, and propose an adapted ECM process model, as well as an integrated ECM framework centered around the design system. In addition, a case study concerning the engineering change process of a brake caliper is used to demonstrate the framework. Ultimately, the limitations and efficacy of the framework are discussed to acknowledge this as a promising area for further research.