What are the best change control tools for streamlining manufacturing operations?

1 What are change control tools?

Change control tools are software applications or platforms that help you manage the entire change control lifecycle, from initiation to closure. They allow you to create, track, and update change requests, assign tasks and responsibilities, communicate with stakeholders, monitor progress and status, verify results and outcomes, and generate reports and records. Change control tools can also integrate with other systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution system (MES), or quality management system (QMS), to ensure data consistency and accuracy.

2 Why do you need change control tools?

Change control tools can simplify and standardize your change control process, reduce human errors and manual work, enhance collaboration and transparency, and improve performance and compliance. With such tools, you can save time and resources by automating workflows, notifications, approvals, and documentation. Additionally, they can increase quality and safety by preventing unauthorized or untested changes, detecting and resolving issues, and ensuring alignment with standards and regulations. They also boost efficiency and productivity by optimizing resource allocation, minimizing downtime and rework, as well as accelerating change implementation and verification. Furthermore, they can strengthen accountability and traceability by assigning roles and permissions, tracking actions and changes, and providing audit trails and evidence.

3 How to choose the best change control tools?

When evaluating change control tools for your manufacturing operations, there are several criteria to consider. These include the functionality of the tool, its usability, scalability, compatibility with existing systems, security measures and controls, and the support offered. The tool should cover all essential features and functions for managing the change control process, such as creating, reviewing, approving, implementing, verifying, and closing change requests. It should also be easy to use with a user-friendly interface and flexible settings. Additionally, it should be able to handle the volume and complexity of your change requests while being compatible with your existing systems and devices. Security measures should be in place to protect data from unauthorized access or loss. Finally, reliable technical support and customer service should be available with regular updates and maintenance.

4 What are some examples of change control tools?

There are many change control tools available in the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Popular and widely used ones include Jira, ServiceNow, and MasterControl. Jira is a project management and issue tracking tool that can be used to manage change requests, workflows, approvals, and documentation. It allows you to create custom fields, forms, and templates, as well as link change requests to other issues. ServiceNow is a cloud-based platform that offers various solutions for IT, business, and operations management, including change management. It enables you to automate and orchestrate change processes, workflows, and approvals. MasterControl is a quality management system that helps you comply with industry standards and regulations. It allows you to manage change control as part of your quality processes and streamline and document your change control procedures. All of these tools provide dashboards, reports, analytics, visibility, traceability, and governance for change activities and outcomes.

5 How to implement change control tools?

Implementing change control tools can be a complex and time-consuming process, depending on the scope, scale, and nature of your manufacturing operations. Nevertheless, there are general steps you should follow. Start by defining your change control objectives, requirements, and expectations, and align them with your business goals and strategies. Then, evaluate and select the best change control tool that meets your criteria and budget, and negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract and service level agreement. Afterwards, plan and prepare for the change control tool implementation, including defining roles and responsibilities, setting timeline and milestones, and allocating resources and budget. Install and configure the change control tool as well as integrating it with other systems, platforms, and devices. Educate staff and stakeholders on how to use the change control tool by providing them with support and guidance. Test and verify the functionality of the tool to identify any issues or problems. Finally, launch the tool to monitor its effectiveness and efficiency while making adjustments or improvements if necessary.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?