Streamlining Engineering Change Management with HxGN SDx2

November 6, 2024

Tom Goff

The Future-Ready Solution for Asset-Intensive Industries

As someone who’s spent years working closely with engineering and operations teams across asset-intensive industries, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of managing engineering changes effectively. Whether it’s a minor tweak in an existing system, a large-scale modification of a critical asset or a new build under construction, the risks are significant. Uncontrolled or poorly executed change management can lead to safety incidents, regulatory non-compliance, costly downtime and cost/schedule overruns. That’s why I’m writing this blog about the new HxGN SDx2—a powerful, seamless solution for managing engineering changes from start to finish.

For engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms and owner operators (OOs), the ability to manage change efficiently, accurately and in compliance with strict industry standards is critical. With HxGN SDx2, Hexagon reimagined engineering change management (ECM) for the modern era, delivering a tool that ensures better control over the process that also integrates with the digital technologies transforming the industry landscape.

Why ECM is Essential

Before diving into why HxGN SDx2 is a great choice for managing engineering changes, let’s first talk about why ECM matters so much in asset-intensive industries like oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation and manufacturing.

In industries where assets are complex, expensive and highly regulated, even the smallest engineering change can have massive implications. Changes may affect safety protocols, regulatory compliance, equipment integrity, production efficiency and/or project execution. For example, modifying a valve in an oil refinery isn’t just about changing a physical component—it requires a detailed affect analysis, updated documentation and approvals from multiple stakeholders to ensure safety and compliance. Moreover, in many facilities, there are hundreds or thousands of such assets, each tied to layers of interdependent systems and processes.

Another example is how late engineering changes during construction can lead to cost overruns. These changes may require the removal of already installed materials due to field clashes, altering the earned value of previous installations.

Without an efficient ECM process, changes can quickly spiral into risks that are difficult to manage. A robust platform makes sure all stakeholders have real-time visibility, which promotes seamless collaboration and maintains a clear, traceable record of every modification. This reduces miscommunication, helps control costs and preserves the integrity of the project and system. Ultimately, such a platform empowers organizations to handle changes more effectively, minimizing risks and enhancing overall efficiency.

The Power of HxGN SDx2 for Engineering Change Management

HxGN SDx2 is a game-changer in ECM. From my experience, here’s why I believe it’s the best solution available for streamlining ECM while still maintaining compliance and efficiency.

Centralized Hub for All Asset Information
One of the most powerful aspects of HxGN SDx2 is its ability to act as a centralized hub for all your asset information. Whether you’re managing structured data (e.g., Excel workbooks, databases) or unstructured data (e.g., PDFs, scans), HxGN SDx2 captures, compares and connects all relevant information into a single, secure environment.

This centralization eliminates one of the biggest challenges EPCs and OOs face: information silos. Instead of having critical change-related data scattered across different systems, departments or geographic locations, HxGN SDx2 ensures everything is in one place. All stakeholders have real-time access to the most up-to-date information, improving critical decision-making and reducing errors.
Flexible, Workflow-Driven Processes
Every organization has its own unique processes for managing engineering changes. Some changes may be minor and can be approved quickly, while others require extensive reviews, impact assessments and multiple layers of approval. The beauty of HxGN SDx2 is its flexible, workflow-driven process engine supports your organization's specific needs.

With HxGN SDx2, you’re able to tailor workflows to match your internal procedures or revise and update those workflows to a more digital approach. Need a change request to be routed through safety, legal and compliance departments before it’s approved? No problem. The system supports multi-step workflows with automatic notifications, deadlines and role-based access so the right people are involved at the right time.

This kind of flexibility is critical for those who need to balance speed with thoroughness, ensuring changes are implemented efficiently without compromising safety or regulatory compliance.
No Upfront Rule Configuration
Unlike other platforms that require complex rule configurations upfront, with HxGN SDx2, you can start managing engineering changes without predefined rulebooks. This offers tremendous flexibility and accelerates the implementation process. Paired with the out-of-the-box workflows, this allows teams to be more self-sufficient and responsive to their specific needs.

This flexibility is a huge advantage for companies operating in dynamic environments. Whether your business processes change due to evolving regulations, new technology or corporate restructuring, HxGN SDx2 adapts without forcing you to overhaul your entire ECM system in one huge lift. HxGN SDx2 meets you where you are and grows as your organization shifts toward a more digital future.
Integrated Change Impact Analysis
One of the biggest risks in any engineering change is not fully understanding the downstream impact of change. A modification to a structure, system or component might have unforeseen consequences on connected systems, safety protocols or even regulatory compliance. With HxGN SDx2, there is no guessing or surprises.

HxGN SDx2 enables comprehensive change impact analysis, allowing you to evaluate how a proposed change will affect other assets, documents and operational processes. It connects engineering data with operational data, providing a holistic view of your assets and their dependencies. This means you can identify and mitigate risks before they become costly problems.
Streamlined Collaboration and Transparency
Engineering change processes often require input from multiple stakeholders, such as engineers, project managers, safety teams, compliance officers and even external contractors; making the need for collaboration evident. HxGN SDx2 simplifies it by allowing all stakeholders to access the same information, participate in the same workflows and track changes in real time.

The system also ensures full transparency, with a complete audit trail of every change request, review, approval and implementation. If you need to demonstrate compliance during an audit or investigate a change’s history, HxGN SDx2 makes it easy to access a clear, detailed record.
Digital Twin Integration
HxGN SDx2’s ECM seamlessly integrates with its digital twin capabilities. By connecting ECM with a live, digital representation of assets, HxGN SDx2 enables you to manage changes in the context of real-time operational data and as-built configurations. This provides deeper insight into how project changes will impact asset performance.

For example, when evaluating a change to equipment in a power plant, the digital twin provides real-time performance data, historical maintenance records and can even simulate how the proposed change would affect overall plant operations. This visibility is crucial for making informed, risk-free decisions.
Compliance and Auditing Made Easy
Compliance is non-negotiable in asset-intensive industrial facilities. Whether it’s meeting safety standards, environmental regulations or International Organization for Standardization certifications, OOs and EPCs need a robust system to track and document every step of the ECM process. HxGN SDx2 excels in this area by providing built-in compliance tools and comprehensive audit trails.

Every action related to a change—whether it’s a review, approval or modification—gets logged automatically. This creates a complete digital record that can be used to demonstrate compliance during inspections or internal audits.

Why HxGN SDx2 is the Future

At Hexagon, we designed HxGN SDx2 to tackle the complexities of ECM while charting a clear, digital path for the future. With its centralized information hub, flexible workflows, integrated impact analysis and seamless connection to digital twin technology, HxGN SDx2 gives you the power to manage changes efficiently, accurately and in full compliance with industry standards.

If your organization is ready to streamline its ECM process, reduce risks and improve collaboration, there’s no better tool than HxGN SDx2. It’s more than a mere solution for the time—it’s built for the future of asset-intensive industries.

Let’s face it, engineering changes are complex, but with the right tools they don’t have to be overwhelming. HxGN SDx2 is here to ensure every change you implement drives efficiency, safety and long-term success for your organization.