Design Change Management (DCM)
The intensity and significance of Design Change Management requirements are most pronounced at the initial concept and outline design phase of a project.
Numerous iterations occur before designs can be viewed as final and complete. Large volumes of information will be created, expressed in drawings, e-mails, product and project information.
Typical characteristics of a Design Change Management software solution include:
- Secure vaults
- Search engine with powerful retrieval capabilities
- CAD and associated reference file management
- Versioning and revision history
- Predefined automated workflow templates
- Drawing & document metadata
- Security, including controlled access
- Audit history
Design Change Management puts design at the centre of the solution. This focus enables organisations to better manage all outgoing and incoming documents, drawings and data that define a design, change requests, project information and contractual information. Efficiencies are gained through the controlled and automated dissemination of design information to all parties, internal or external. Typical benefits gained:
- Saves time and increases output & efficiency
- Reduces wasted hours searching, editing, circulating files
- Improves decision making
- Shortens discrete design cycles
- Reduces errors and mitigates risk
- Improves collaboration between parties
- Ensures drawing, document & data file consistency across the organisation
