Patent ID: 7299102

Claim:
A method for implementing an engineering change on a unit of a product in a manufacturing process controlled by a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) where the manufacturing process without an engineering change implementation function is specified by a first MES route, a sequence of process steps wherein the method comprises the steps of: beginning the manufacture of a first quantity of units using the first MES route; determining than an engineering change is required for the units; identifying a first process step in the first MES route to implement the engineering change by setting a first E/C rework identifier for the first process step in the MES; providing a first E/C rework process associated with the first E/C rework identifier; such that the MES determines a unit is at the first process step, including scanning a barcode identifying the unit, determines from the first E/C rework identifier that the engineering change is to be applied, and provides the first E/C rework process associated with the first E/C rework identifier to implement the engineering change and after the first E/C rework process has been completed, sets an indicator in the MES that the engineering change has been applied on the unit.