Comparing Change Management Processes for Requirements and Manufacturing: An Interview Based Study

Abstract

The study presented in this paper compares requirement and manufacturing change management processes to determine if similar processes can be used for both types of changes. A literature review is used to identify prescribed process stages. Ten stages are identified for both requirements and manufacturing change management. A series of interviews are then conducted with three different population groups to determine the process stages actually used in the field. The resulting process models are compared with the process models from the literature. Further, a thematic analysis is performed on the interview findings. Ultimately, differences are found between the prescribed and practiced change management models for both types of changes. Formal documentation stages are more prevalent for the manufacturing domain, though documentation in practice is less than what is prescribed. This includes the issuance of change requests and change orders in manufacturing change management that are not present in requirement change management processes. Significant differences were also found between the two change types; namely, requirement changes deal with more abstract concepts and as such can afford more informal documentation, whereas manufacturing changes deal with existing artifacts and require solid documentation. Additional research thrusts are identified to help reconcile change management processes across the life cycle.

Part Change Management: A Case Study on Automotive Engineering and Production; Domestic and International Perspectives

“…The views and perceptions of participants within the process are critical for understanding the rationale associated with any process deviations. This approach has been used for understanding other aspects of engineering design, such as the research culture [44,45], change management in automation and manufacturing [34,46], and capstone design effectiveness [47,48]. Alternative approaches in case study research in engineering design are more generally focused on document analysis, focusing on the objectivity of analyzing existing information rather than seeking to extract potential explanations or perceptions.…”

“…Engineering change as it relates to manufacturing has been studied through mapping to general process models [34]. For instance, one model views three basic steps of a manufacturing change management process: before approval, during approval, and after approval [35].…”

“…The sources for change in manufacturing can be from the production line, from quality control offices, supplier changes, design changes, or logistics modifications [10,34]. An example of design changes may take the form of introduction of new options or packages in a vehicle model.…”