Engineering change is unavoidable in product development. What separates high-performing teams from struggling ones isn’t how often changes happen, but how cleanly they’re handled. For many SOLIDWORKS Singapore users, the biggest risks show up when change is tracked through emails, shared drives, or filename gymnastics. SOLIDWORKS PDM gives teams a structured way to control revisions, approvals, and traceability without slowing design down.
Why Informal Change Control Fails as Teams Scale
Small teams can survive on trust and quick conversations. Growing teams can’t. Once multiple engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing stakeholders are involved, informal change control creates:
- Confusion over the latest approved version
- Accidental edits to released files
- Delays caused by unclear reviewers and responsibilities
- Weak audit trails when customers ask “what changed and why?”
These problems multiply quickly in fast-turnaround Singapore manufacturing environments.
Use Lifecycle States to Enforce Order
A clean process starts with lifecycle states inside SOLIDWORKS PDM. Instead of manually copying files into “Released” folders, define clear vault stages:
- In Work – Designers can modify freely
- For Review – Files lock automatically for checking
- Released – Read-only access for production and purchasing
- Obsolete – Archived with full history
Each state carries its own permissions, so the system prevents mistakes instead of relying on memory.
Build a Simple Engineering Change Flow
1) Capture the Change Request
When an issue arises (shop-floor feedback, customer request, cost-down idea), log an Engineering Change Request (ECR) in PDM. Keep it concise: reason, urgency, affected items, owner.
2) Link the Request to CAD Data
Attach parts, assemblies, drawings, and BOM documents directly to the ECR. This ensures the change isn’t floating separately from the real design files.
3) Create a New Revision from the Baseline
Once approved to proceed, PDM generates a revision copy from the last released version. The old revision stays locked; the new one returns to In Work for editing.
4) Route Reviews Through Tasks
Designers submit revisions for review. Approvers get task notifications, comment within the vault, and approve digitally. No more lost emails or untracked markups.
5) Release with Full Traceability
After sign-off, files move to Released, BOMs are consistent, and manufacturing sees only the correct version. Every action is time-stamped for audits or customer requirements.
Best Practices That Keep It Working
- Start light. A simple workflow beats a complex one nobody follows.
- Standardise metadata. Require part numbers, revision notes, and project codes.
- Assign roles clearly. Requester, owner, reviewer, and PDM admin should be obvious.
- Train habits, not buttons. Once teams understand the “why,” adoption sticks.
The Payoff for SOLIDWORKS Singapore Teams
With SOLIDWORKS PDM-driven change control, teams reduce rework, speed up approvals, and protect manufacturing from outdated files. Most importantly, they gain confidence that every product leaving the floor matches the latest approved design.