ECNs, MCNs, CRs, and ECRs

Change requests and change notices are used to suggest and deploy modifications in manufacturing planning.

An engineering change notice (ECN), which is typically assigned due to an approved change request (CR) or engineering change request (ECR), records engineering design changes to a product. An ECN identifies objects affected by a change to parts and authorizes actions that address that change. A manufacturing change notice (MCN) is intended for capturing actions that are required to incorporate changes in manufacturing planning.

You can create an MCN from an ECN and use that MCN to manage the ECN's impact on manufacturing. Use an MCN to update changes in a manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM), a classic bill of process (BOP), or a plant BOP. You can also create an MCN from a proposed change notice, connect changes from multiple ECNs into one MCN, and divide changes from a single ECN to multiple MCNs.

A minimal workflow may include the following.

	An upstream board meeting verifies the need for one or more engineering changes and informs a lead planner in engineering.
	The lead planner reviews each ECN to determine manufacturing impact, creates an MCN from the ECN, associates the MCN with a work package, and assigns a process planner to make the necessary updates.
	The process planner incorporates the ECN changes that are included in the MCN into the MBOM and BOP, and verifies that the MBOM has been updated.
	The lead planner reviews the changes and releases the MCN and package.