Current practice of engineering change management in Hong Kong manufacturing industries

This paper aims at investigating the current state of engineering change (EC) problem and examining the present industrial practice in managing ECs. The study draws the findings from the interviews that were conducted within four Hong Kong manufacturing companies in 1999. The current state of the EC problem has been examined in the aspects of volume, sources, and effects while the present industrial practice in managing ECs have been investigated in terms of documentation, organisation, and activities. The study has highlighted two general findings. One is that EC is a noticeable problem that cannot be underestimated in the competitive environment facing the manufacturing industries. This indicates that more effort is required to process ECs effectively and efficiently. Another finding is that the management of ECs is unsatisfactory in the companies surveyed. This indicates that a good engineering change management (ECM) system including guidelines, methodologies, and/or techniques is necessary for better dealing with ECs in the product development process.