TRAMM

Volume 3 Section 2
Version 3.0
CHAPTER 1
THE ENGINEERING CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
Reference:
Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991
1.1 Reference A obliges the Department of Defence, as an employer, to take all reasonably
practicable steps to ensure the health and safety at work of Defence employees. This implies that any
materiel that Defence designs, manufactures, procures, maintains or operates must be designed,
constructed or modified to comply with this obligation. Therefore, all engineering change activities to
Defence materiel must be conducted in accordance with processes that comply with this obligation.
These processes require that all engineering changes to land materiel must be approved and
accepted by competent and authorised individuals.
1.2 Organisations with responsibility for the management of technical integrity of land materiel
are required to determine the acceptability of proposed engineering changes. This determination is
based on a review of the Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to confirm that the specified
requirements and design standards are sufficient and applicable, and that the detail of the proposal is
such that the applicable executive authority can make an informed decision. The function of
engineering change management is central to the assurance of technical integrity.
PURPOSE
1.3 The purpose of this section of Volume 3 is to provide direction and guidance on the
Engineering Change Management Process (ECMP) for land materiel.
SCOPE
1.4 The ECMP encompasses all changes to the design of land materiel systems, including
changes to support equipment, spares, software and documentation. It does not encompass
replacement of existing materiel systems.
What is an engineering change?
1.5 A proposal is considered to be an engineering change if it recommends:
a. changing the form, fit or function of materiel;
b. modification to or addition of surface coatings such as paint and paint schemes;
c. use of different lubricants or fuels;
d. use of the materiel in a role or environment different to the endorsed capability
requirement;
e. use of a spare part or component that is not an approved spare part or component;
f. changes to any part of the technical data pack;
g. changes to any integral software; or
h. enhancement of performance.
1.6 The following types of manufacturing must also be proposed through the ECMP:
a. Articles Manufactured in Workshop (AMW); and
b. local manufacture of technical components.
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THE ENGINEERING CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
1.7 A flow chart depicting the generic ECMP is in annex A. All proposals to conduct design
activities within organisations responsible for design, production or maintenance of land materiel
should be made on an GM156 Engineering Change Proposal shown at annex B
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. If this form is not
used the ECP used must address the mandatory requirements detailed in TRAMM Volume 3, Section
2, Chapter 7 Controlling Design.
Stages of the ECMP
1.8 The three stages of the ECMP are:
a. concept,
b. design, and
c. incorporation.
1.9 Concept. The concept stage is carried out by completion of part 1 of the GM156. This is
usually completed by the proposal originator, and is a statement of intent, which may include sketches
or photographs to support and convey the concept.
1.10 Design. The design stage consists of preliminary and detailed design phases.
a. Preliminary design. During Preliminary Design stage, the broad scope of the project
is to be detailed in part 2 of the ECP. The first judgement of significance is made in
accordance with TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2, Chapter 7 Controlling Design, and a
recommendation is made to the Executive Authority as to the desirability of
proceeding with the proposal. The Executive Authority completes the Approval to
Proceed section of Part 2.
b. Detailed design. The detailed design stage is to be completed in accordance with
TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2, Chapter 7 Controlling Design, coincidental with
completion of part 7 of the ECP form (logistic issues). Part 3 of the ECP is also to be
completed by the applicable authority during the design stage.
1.11 Incorporation. After the design is complete, and all logistic factors have been summarised
on part 4 of the ECP, the proposal is forwarded to the appropriate Design Acceptance Authority
(DAA) or representative (DAAR) for design acceptance. After the DAA/R has accepted the design the
ECP is forwarded to the executive authority for approval. If approval is given, the executive authority
commits to the expenditure of resources to implement the proposal by signing the Engineering
Change Order (part 6 of the ECP form). Executive Approval is to be based on:
a. whether the change meets an endorsed user requirement,
b. the designs conformity to the original ECP concept,
c. whether design acceptance has occurred,
d. satisfaction that due rigour has been applied during design acceptance,
e. implementation instructions having been drafted,
f. interface and logistic factors, and
g. identification and availability of the required resources.

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If a CM software tool is used, electronic and e-mail versions of the Engineering Change Proposal may be
utilised to decrease processing time.
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Priority of the Engineering Change Proposal
1.12 All Engineering Change Proposals are to be assigned a priority by the originator, according
to the urgency for approval to incorporate. The originators priority is to be reviewed by the Executive
Authority during the approval to proceed stage.
1.13 Priorities are:
a. Emergency. Emergency is when delay in the proposal approval process will affect
safety, or operation of critical materiel has been suspended.
b. Urgent. Urgent priority is when:
(1) mission effectiveness of materiel is affected;
(2) a potentially hazardous condition compromises safety; or
(3) routine processing of the proposal will cause project or production delays, or
significant increases in cost.
c. Routine. Routine is whenever emergency and urgent are not appropriate. Routine
applies when the engineering change (if approved) can be incorporated through
routine maintenance or replenishment activities.
1.14 Priorities for ECP decisions and timings are to be shown in the CM Plan or Instruction.
Timings for the assigned priorities will vary according to the size of the project and or complexity of the
fleet. The Executive Authority is to the ECP (indicating approval or otherwise) within the timeframe set
by the priority of the ECP.
TYPES OF ENGINEERING CHANGE
1.15 Within Defence, there are four main uses for the generic ECMP process. These are:
a. Fleet Engineering Change (see TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2, Chapter 2 Fleet
Engineering Change Management Process);
b. Local Engineering Change (see TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2, Chapter 3 Local
Engineering Change Management Process).
c. Articles Manufactured in Workshop (AMW) (see TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2,
Chapter 5 Articles Manufactured in Workshops (AMW)); and
d. Local Manufacture of Technical Components (see TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2,
Chapter 4 Local manufacture of Technical Components).
MINIMUM LEVELS OF ENGINEERING COMPETENCY
1.16 Authority for conduct of each category of design change activity should be delegated or
assigned to the lowest practicable level. Minimum levels of competency required for conduct of ECMP
activities are shown in TRAMM Volume 3, Section 2, Chapter 7, Annex A Minimum Levels of
Competency. Each authority must always refer a proposal to the next higher authority if it is
considered outside their scope or competency. Note that an individual must be authorised to conduct
the identified activities by the appropriate DAA/R.
Annexes:
A. The Engineering Change Management Process
B. GM 156 - Engineering Change Proposal