Comparing engineering/design change management and related concepts in BIM- and PLM-supported industries from the literature

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) are widely adopted in industry, yet their approaches to managing change are not fully aligned. Understanding both their common ground and their differences is essential for transferring knowledge across domains. This study examines how change is handled in BIM- and PLM-supported industries, focusing on design change management (DCM) within BIM-supported environments and engineering change management (ECM) within PLM-supported environments. Through a literature-based review of definitions, terminology, processes, tools, and methods, we identify patterns that shape each approach. From this comparison, representative ECM and DCM processes are outlined as potential best practices. The analysis highlights similarities as well as distinct characteristics, offering insights into functionalities that could be adapted or transferred between BIM- and PLM-supported industries.