Change Item Classes
The following figure shows the model for the change classes provided by Windchill’s change management module.
Change Management Class Model
The following figure shows the relationship between the change item classes and the change management process shown earlier.
Change Management Process and Related Classes
Following are descriptions of the available change objects:
Change issue
A change issue holds information about the problem’s symptoms. A change issue can be thought of as a suggestion box.
Change request
A change request is the object that organizes the other change objects. It represents a formal, traceable change. This object can be associated with product data versions (for example: parts, products, product instances, documents, or CAD documents).
Change investigation
A change investigation organizes the information pertaining to the root cause of the problem. It is used when the root cause is not trivial or obvious. If the research to determine the root cause is very detailed or complicated, analysis activities are used to organize the effort into logical work breakdowns.
Change proposal
A change proposal organizes the information pertaining to a solution for the problem. It is used when the problem solution is not trivial or obvious. If the research to determine the solution is very detailed or complicated, analysis activities are used to organize the effort into logical work breakdowns.
Analysis activity
An analysis activity is used in conjunction with either a change investigation or a change proposal. When the cause of the problem is complex, an analysis activity helps to further organize a change investigation. When the solution to a problem is complex, an analysis activity helps to further organize a change proposal. This object can be associated with product data versions that are relevant to the analysis work.
Change order
A change order is created if a change proposal is chosen for implementation.
Change activity
A change activity serves as the work breakdown for a change order. This object can be associated with product data versions for two distinct reasons: the product data is defective or otherwise must be changed, or the product data version is a result of a change. This allows users of the system to track the reason for change to product data.
