Turn Change Management into a Strategic Advantage with Fusion and PLM

Discover how Autodesk Fusion and Fusion Manage PLM unify data and process management to simplify change workflows, improve collaboration, and accelerate product development.

Change management in Autodesk Fusion and Fusion Manage

By integrating product data and process management, Fusion and Fusion Manage PLM enable organizations to move beyond reactive change handling toward proactive lifecycle control. Instead of managing change through isolated tools and manual communication, teams operate with a shared source of truth. The result is fewer disruptions, shorter response times, and improved product quality.

Change is inevitable—but with the right systems in place, it becomes a driver of innovation and continuous improvement rather than a source of chaos.

Simplify change management – No more chaos

Imagine a world where every design tweak, specification update, or supplier change is tracked and resolved in a single, unified system. Fusion makes this possible by embedding data management from the start. When you add Fusion Manage PLM, you get seamless process management—connecting design data, workflows, and teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Integrating data and process management

Fusion’s built-in data management capabilities ensure that product information—such as CAD models, bills of materials (BOMs), and specifications—remains accurate and accessible throughout the product lifecycle. When extended with integrated product lifecycle management (PLM) with Fusion Manage, process management is added directly to workflows.

Changes are captured at their source and move seamlessly through digital workflows that connect stakeholders across functions. Engineering, quality, procurement, suppliers, and production teams all collaborate using the same data and shared context. This unification eliminates the need for disconnected spreadsheets, shared drives, or email-driven approval cycles.

Streamlined digital workflows with change management

Every change in Fusion follows a controlled and traceable process. When a problem or enhancement is identified, teams can initiate a change request (CR). Automated notifications route tasks to appropriate reviewers, while configurable escalation rules maintain accountability and momentum.

The standard workflow typically includes several key phases:

Review: Evaluate the impact and validity of the proposed change

Approve: Authorize modifications through defined approval hierarchies

Implement: Execute the approved change and update affected items, drawings, or BOMs

Each step is logged automatically, creating a transparent audit trail. The system associates Change Orders (CO), Change Requests (CR), and Problem Reports (PR) with all affected components, providing full traceability from problem identification to resolution.

Configurability and visibility

Fusion Manage allows organizations to configure workflows to match their operational structure. Using a visual configuration editor, users can modify approval routes, insert decision points, or add validation steps without custom code.

Real-time dashboards and reporting strengthen oversight across the product development process. Key performance indicators such as open change requests, overdue tasks, and cycle times can be monitored continuously. These capabilities improve decision-making and help identify process bottlenecks before they impact delivery schedules.

How Fusion keeps eveyone in sync

Fusion captures changes at their origin and moves them through digital workflows, ensuring that engineering, quality, procurement, suppliers, and production teams stay aligned. You never have to worry about managing design data or process management separately—Fusion brings them together, making changes transparent, traceable, and collaborative.

Respond quickly and stay accountable

When an issue pops up, teams can instantly create a Change Request within the system. Automated notifications and escalations keep everyone accountable and progress visible. Here’s how a typical workflow looks: open a change order, review, approve, implement.

Tasks, deadlines, and notifications are automatically assigned, and every step is tracked for full auditability and root-cause analysis. You can easily view the history of change orders, problem reports, change requests, and affected items.

Tailor workflows to your business

Fusion Manage features out-of-the-box PLM workflows that are fully configurable, including change management. Use the visual editor to drag and drop workflow steps, adjust approval routes, and save changes instantly.

Change management use cases across the product lifecycle

The benefits of integrated change management span multiple disciplines:

Engineering and design: Automatically update all impacted assemblies and stakeholders, keeping drawings and BOMs in sync.

Quality management: Link nonconformance reports to change tasks to prevent future issues.

Procurement and supply chain: Instantly notify suppliers of part revisions, reducing delays and rework.

Manufacturing: Integrate approved changes into production planning, avoiding outdated instructions.

Regulated industries: Maintain compliance with audit-ready documentation and traceable approvals.

Collaboration and data accuracy

Teams get the right information at the right time—no more chasing emails or reconciling spreadsheets. Once a change is complete, items and BOMs automatically update to the next revision and lifecycle state. Fusion’s integrated data and process management removes the guesswork, so you can manage change confidently, quickly, and with total control.

Fusion: Turning change into clarity

With Fusion, integrated data and processes make change management smarter and more transparent. Whether you’re building consumer products, automotive parts, industrial machinery, or other equipment, Fusion helps you handle change with speed, confidence, and control.