Article: Engineering change management: comparing theory to a case study from aerospace Journal: International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management (IJPLM) 2024 Vol.15 No.4 pp.318 - 342 Abstract: Engineering change (EC) is omnipresent in product development and, hence, in the aerospace industry. Engineering change management (ECM) is therefore needed. Various research studies have proposed different ECM processes to manage ECs. However, there may be differences between the ECM processes described in theory (scientific literature) and those used in practice (real world). This article intends to explore the similarities and differences between the ECM processes in theory and in practice. This article investigates and analyses one case study in an aerospace company. The authors analysed the ECM terminology, the flow of data and documents, activities, and functionalities of the IT tools in the aforementioned case study. The results of the case study were then compared with the ECM process from theory through ECM stages and activities. This comparison between theory and practice enhances the implementation of ECM in practice and deepens the understanding of ECM in the literature. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Engineering change management: comparing theory to a case study from aerospace

Authors: Hamidreza Pourzarei; Oussama Ghnaya; Louis Rivest; Conrad Boton

Addresses: Systems Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada; Construction Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada ' Systems Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada; Construction Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada ' Systems Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada ' Construction Engineering Department, ETS Montreal, Canada

Abstract: Engineering change (EC) is omnipresent in product development and, hence, in the aerospace industry. Engineering change management (ECM) is therefore needed. Various research studies have proposed different ECM processes to manage ECs. However, there may be differences between the ECM processes described in theory (scientific literature) and those used in practice (real world). This article intends to explore the similarities and differences between the ECM processes in theory and in practice. This article investigates and analyses one case study in an aerospace company. The authors analysed the ECM terminology, the flow of data and documents, activities, and functionalities of the IT tools in the aforementioned case study. The results of the case study were then compared with the ECM process from theory through ECM stages and activities. This comparison between theory and practice enhances the implementation of ECM in practice and deepens the understanding of ECM in the literature.

Keywords: product lifecycle management; PLM; engineering change management; ECM; engineering change; EC; design change; comparison.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2024.143538

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2024 Vol.15 No.4, pp.318 - 342

Received: 01 Jun 2023
Accepted: 09 Jul 2024
Published online: 30 Dec 2024 *

Title: Engineering change management: comparing theory to a case study from aerospace

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