Using a ledger or spreadsheets in an attempt to track all these changes can be inaccurate, time-consuming, and often wrong, but a robust Enterprise Resource Planning system can do the job simply and affordably. Sophisticated Enterprise Resource Planning systems have incorporated into their solutions many features once found only in Product Lifecycle Management software.
A well-designed Enterprise Resource Planning system allows you to track every aspect of the manufacturing process. ERP software gives your company structured tools that work in a symbiotic fashion to create order out of the chaos of the shop floor in a secure environment.
The features of an ERP system that help track product changes include:
The ability to build and keep up a BOM is the cornerstone of an ERP system. Cross-referencing which supplier’s products are in which lot speeds up identifying questionable components if a recall is in order.
Solid ERP software plans using your Approved Manufacturers list (AML). Approved manufacturers are vital as using unauthorized sources can violate a federal contract or regulatory authority rules such as the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Enterprise Resource Planning systems allow makers to find defective product designs or defective parts and find replacement parts from approved vendors quickly.
Engineering Change Order management depends on all the above components to accurately document manufacturing changes, but the key is being able to manage all of the above tracking information in a single, integrated format.
When regulators mandate changes, an Engineering Change Order manager helps you track all aspects of process changes that need to be implemented to remain compliant. Also, if your product suddenly lags or rejects increase, ECOs can also help you quickly identify changes in your manufacturing process that might have been responsible for those problems.
A robust ERP system will give you real-time access to vendor, sales, inventory, and transaction records, and make coordinating this data with engineering change orders easy. As a result, you'll be able to track and document all product changes to follow best ECO practices—including Engineering Change Requests, Engineering Change Orders, notifications, approvals, and project time.