Best Engineering Change Management ( ECN / ECR ) in 2024

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What is ECN ?

The full form of ECN is Engineering Change Notice. It is also known as Engineering Change Order ( ECO ), so if further I say ECO, then don’t get confused. So, let’s begin with the topic. ECN OR ECO is a document that begins the process for corrections in and during the lifecycle of a product. ECO plays a very critical role in the field of engineering as well as in product development.
It is said that the only thing that is constant is ‘change’. Well the manufacturing process is not an exception to this. All the equipment and the procedures take a good amount of planning to establish, and are not set in stone.
It is said that the organisation that adapts changes is sure to enhance.  ECN ensures that all the new parts are fit perfectly fulfilling the purpose.
ECN documents and tells about the details of a process. It indicates whether a component is being modified or not and lists all the components and processes that should be modified and impacted.
Now, let us discuss the steps of ECN.
Steps included in Engineering Change Process : 
The steps included in ECN are :

  1. First, identify the Scope and the Problem : It is done by recognizing the issue that needs to be changed. This process also tells us about the extent of the change we are about to make.
  2. Second, Create ECR i.e. Engineering Change Request : In this step, a request is being raised so as to dive into more detail about the proposal. It prepares the info about the stakeholders so as to make a decision regarding the procedure.
  3. Third step, Review and Approve : In this process the ECR gives the review of the approval process. After this, it is sent to a committee which makes the go or not to go decisions. This is one of the most important processes in the engineering change process.
  4. Fourth step, Create an ECO : After ECR is approved, an engineering change order ( ECO ) is created. It provides with all the info for the execution of changes in an effective and an efficient manner. It usually includes tech drawings that are updated, task lists, as well as BMOs. The ECO system would be able to list all the equipment assemblies that are impacted.
  5. Step five, Review and approve : After the compilation of the engineering change order it is reviewed and approved by the system. It gives a wide scope of work and is approved by a number of individuals of their own respective areas and expertise.
  6. Implement : After all the processes, here comes the final step that is the most important of all the steps, which is the Implementation.

Who creates ECO ?

Any person who identifies changes into the catalogued materials as well as has access to the system raises an engineering change order i.e. ( ECO ). The process used for review and approval is performed by a different person.
So, this was about ECN / ECO. Now, let us discuss another topic that is Engineering Change Request (ECR)).

What is ECR ?

Engineering Change Request or ECR is a type of change request that is used to describe suggested enhancements so as to fix a product design. The design of the form initiates the change process and also promotes the decisions within the team so as to help to determine the impact of a particular kind of change and its best possible solution. ECR is reviewed and also circulated between key engineers of the team or between key engineering teams before it is shared with any extended product team. Let us now see some of the examples of change requests.
Examples of CR ( Change Requests ) :
Now, a change request comes from the complaints of the customers, materials that are non-conforming, field failures, some audits, ideas for product enhancement, and many other different sources. Let us now see some examples of change requests.

  1. Engineering Change Request i.e. ECR : It is a type of change request that is listed on proposed improvements and other problems regarding components and assemblies.
  2. Document Change Request i.e. DCR : It is a type of change request that gives the details about the changes with documents, SOPs, etc.
  3. Manufacturing Change Request i.e. MCR : It is a type of change request that specifies the changes about the manufacturing processes and equipment.
  4. Corrective Action Request i.e. CAR : It is a type of change request that documents the critical problems related to the product.
  5. Field Failure Request i.e. FFR : It is a change request that does the detailing of problems related to the products that are observed in the fields.

Now, let us discuss, what should an ecr capture.
ECR Form Capture :
Somethings that an err form should capture in engineering are :

  • Description of the problem.
  • Reason for the change.
  • The part numbers that would be affected due to this.
  • Description of the parts.
  • The date of the submission of change.
  • Stakeholder’s opinion.
  • Stakeholder’s name and their roles.

Why is ECR Important ?
The ECR helps the employees to review and to understand a given problem and make relevant suggestions according to the situation. ECR in engineering provides a method for the documentation of problems, in raising issues and to capture responses. It helps to capture action of the group and takes on a particular type of problem and suggests changes accordingly.
That is why ECR is important.
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