In the manufacturing industry, a change proposal is a formal, written document that an individual or group submits to suggest changes to a product, process, or system. Change proposals are important tools for managing and controlling changes and ensuring that all impacted teams can provide input.
The change proposal provides a detailed description of the proposed change, reason for the change, and an estimate of how it might affect the manufacturing process, product quality, cost, or schedule. It is the basis for discussions between engineers, production managers, quality assurance teams, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to determine if the proposed change is feasible and acceptable.
After the change proposal has been evaluated, it can be accepted, changed, or turned down. If the proposal is accepted, the change will be implemented, which may involve updates to work instructions, training records, and other supporting documentation.
Read our guides to effective change and revision control, master change management with our best practices articles and learn how to implement an effective change management system