Change is a fact of life. It’s going to happen whether you like it or not: it’s a well-known challenge for any manufacture. Whether it’s new customer requirements, unexpected delays in a project or a supplier failing to deliver, it’s something we all have to face.
But, just because change and disruption can be expected doesn’t mean you should let them get the better of you. If fact, the only thing you can do is prepare for it.
There are two factors that help companies to manage change. First of all, they know to expect it and plan accordingly. Second, they ensure they have the technology they need to meet their engineering needs. Let’s explore these further.
Be prrepared for change
Being prepared for change essentially means that you have the robustness and resilience to accommodate the unexpected. This covers everything from having the right processes in place to having the right infrastructure to manage, monitor and formally review any situation that arises.
They will also record and document the situations, so that if it happens again they’re not left scratching their heads wondering what to do. This might sound obvious, but there are plenty of companies that risk being overtaken by the competition because they’re trying to reinvent the wheel every time something unexpected happens.
Have the technology you need to be able to adapt to unexpected product development changes
How often have you felt held back because the tools you have aren’t up to the job? For many design teams like yours, staying ahead of the competition means looking at adding capabilities like Flexible Modeling and integrated PDM to their PTC CAD seats. By adopting these capabilities at the right time, these companies deliver products faster than before, as they can better respond to late-stage design changes, modify imported design data, predict product performance during design, and manage all aspects of product design securely.
