Even well-designed electronic products change over time. A component becomes unavailable. Testing uncovers an issue. A supplier changes a specification. An OEM finds a way to improve performance or make the product easier to manufacture.
An engineering change order, or ECO, provides a controlled way to put those changes into practice. For complex electronics, that control matters because one seemingly small design update can affect the bill of materials, work instructions, inventory, testing, and production schedules.
Key Takeaways:
- Engineering change orders provide a structured process for introducing product changes.
- A single ECO can affect engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and testing.
- Clear documentation and configuration control help prevent old and new product revisions from becoming mixed.
- Evaluating the manufacturing impact before releasing a change can reduce rework, delays, and unnecessary material costs.
What Is an Engineering Change Order?
An ECO is the formal documentation used to authorize and communicate a change to a product or its manufacturing information. The change could involve a component, drawing, specification, PCB design, software revision, assembly process or another controlled part of the product.
Good change management creates visibility into what changed and which version should be used. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s work on engineering change management notes that engineering changes can require teams to revisit specifications and other decisions that had previously been considered complete. For an OEM, the challenge is making sure that change reaches everyone who needs it at the right time.
How Can an ECO Affect the Manufacturing Process?
A component change may look simple on an engineering drawing but create several downstream questions. Does the new component require a different assembly process? Will existing test procedures still work? Is there inventory of the old component that needs to be used or removed? Does the change require new tooling or work instructions?
Spartronics’ value-added engineering services extend from early product development through pilot production and sustaining engineering. Manufacturing involvement during the ECO process can help OEMs understand these downstream effects before releasing a change to production.
That is especially important when an update affects an existing product rather than a new design. Production may already be underway, which means teams need a clear transition point between revisions.
Why Are Configuration Control and Traceability Important?
An ECO is only useful if everyone knows which revision is current. Manufacturing teams may need updated drawings, BOMs, work instructions, test procedures, and inspection requirements. Purchasing needs to know which components to order, while quality teams may need to update documentation or verification requirements.
NIST describes configuration management as a formal way to identify, control, record, and report changes to controlled items. That visibility helps prevent outdated documentation or components from making their way into a current build. Spartronics emphasizes traceability and documented process controls when manufacturing complex and highly regulated products.
How Can OEMs Reduce the Risk of Engineering Changes?
Engineering changes can affect more than the product design itself. Before an ECO moves into production, teams should evaluate how the change could affect component availability, existing inventory, tooling, testing, documentation, and manufacturing processes. Reviewing these factors early can help identify potential issues before they lead to production delays, rework, or unnecessary costs.
Spartronics’ manufacturing readiness process evaluates product designs, components, fabrication processes, and test strategies with these manufacturing risks in mind.
Manage Product Changes With Spartronics
Engineering changes are a normal part of the product lifecycle. The goal is to make sure each change reaches production in a controlled, documented way. Spartronics supports OEMs with engineering, manufacturing readiness, supply-chain management, and quality processes that help manage complex products as they evolve.
Explore our electronics manufacturing services to learn how we can support your product from development through ongoing production.
