Abstract
This paper analyses the engineering change management (EC) process in three engineering companies in Sweden. In the paper, the influence of various company specific factors, such as change leadtime, on the design of the EC process are analysed. The current use of computer support is surveyed and the possibility to apply a modern product data management (PDM) system to support the process is analysed. The paper also presents different strategies for improving the engineering change management process as well as of the product data management systems in order to achieve an optimal process.