Engineering Change Notification (ECN) Processing

Releasing of engineering changes is an essential part of the manufacturing cycle. These changes impact multiple products on the line and therefore managing the implementation of these changes to the shop floor is an essential process. Proplanner’s MCO workflow feature allows for assigning these changes to the essential groups at the plant. The mBOM and Consumption workbenches along with the Virtual Build module streamline the process of authoring, validating and applying these changes. And our Shop Floor Viewer/MES ensures that the changes are communicated and acknowledged by the operators on the line and thereby closing the loop of applying the engineering change.

Read our blog about ECN Processing down below or here:https://www.proplanner.com/whats-new/...

Thanks for watching!
Website: https://www.proplanner.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prop...
Facebook:   / proplanner-166582073361243  

Engineering Change Notifications or (ECN)s are changes made to the product structure as an improvement or to introduce a new product. Along with ECNs, a change may arrive through Deviations or Deviation From Spec (DFS) which typically originate from the shop floor. The intention of the deviation is to handle unplanned part or process issues. These changes directly impact the quality of the product and therefore warrant proper tracking and implementation. The Assembly Planner (AP) software provides substantial capabilities to track and manage these changes through manufacturing engineering and onto the shop floor.

Proplanner’s Manufacturing Process and Execution sits in the middle of product Design and Operations. The typical flow of data from Product Design to Shop floor is shown in the image below.

The dataflow shown in the position diagram is one of many possible configurations. Proplanner’s flexible architecture allows for multiple dataflow configurations.

Bi-directional exchange of BOP
Establish detailed industrial engineering data in Proplanner
MRP - Proplanner

Managing Changes
There are two sources of change notifications in Proplanner - ECN and Deviations. Each change goes through the system via an MCO (Manufacturing Change Order).

Engineering Change Notification - ECOs originate in PDM or Product Data Management Systems and are sent to Proplanner to allow the Manufacturing group to make those changes to the mBOM or Manufacturing BOM and related processes. The change may impact several groups at the plant and the MCO allows for including these groups through the workflow definition.

Deviation Management – Unlike ECOs, Deviations are created in Proplanner. They can be tied to BOM adjustments, part shortages, stock consumption and process changes. Similar to the ECO, a deviation is also mapped to a MCO workflow.

MCO
Every Engineering Change Order or Deviation is sent to an MCO workflow

The workflow takes the MCO to all the relevant groups in the plant

Each group has a list of tasks (checklist) to be completed before handing over the MCO to the next group

The workflows can be predefined or can be created on the fly. Each stage of the workflow represents a group or a function that is necessary in approving the change. Typical decisions are – is this a new part/purchased part, does this require paint, does this require fabrication, do I have tooling ready etc. Based on these decisions subsequent groups are selected. The MCO also presents a checklist to each group to show the list of tasks they need to complete. The check list can be test, yes/no or tables

Review All New Parts on ECO- Assign Default Effectivity Date

Item Master Fields-Assign Stocking Type, Product Code, and Paint Code

Item Master Fields-WPS Remarks Field (as required)

Item Master Fields-Annual Volume Estimate

Item Master Fields-Engineering Work Task Number (as required)

Item Master Fields-Comments Field - to be populated into AQP comments or other comments as required.

Item Master Fields-BOP Comments Field

Item Master Fields-Identify new or changed Line set sheet codes

Create PPRs-Type in PN and Revision (Data Mgmt Tab, PPR Export Option) - then Export PPRs

Review Revised Parts-Confirm for GI and Identify Stocking Type

Review Revised Parts-Review Dwg impact on SOS/SOP (Time components of weldment to account for LT offset)

BOM Changes-Time In & Time Out Components of Assemblies

BOM Changes-Create New BOMs (MBOM from EBOM)

BOM Changes-Confirm Op Sequences are correct and move tooling from old BOM to new BOM.

Add to Anixter Hardware Report-Add hardware that goes to a new location to Anixter Hardware table

Impact on BOM-Identify new 9 digit PNs to add and Line-set Sheet Codes to be modified

Assess Impact on any Tooling-Note new tooling needed, or tooling needing changed

Write any tool orders required or order purchased tooling

Example of a Checklist
#engineering #manufacturing #software