Introduction
In many organizations, the “process” is still a series of manual steps: sending an email for approval, manually updating a spreadsheet, or chasing down a manager for a signature. These manual touchpoints are where projects slow down, data gets lost, and errors occur.
Workflow Process Automation is the technology that directs the flow of tasks, information, and documents through the organization according to pre-defined business rules. In a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) context, it is the “logic layer” that ensures the right person receives the right data at the right time, without human intervention.
The Components of an Automated Engineering Workflow
To automate a process effectively, three elements must be clearly defined:
- Triggers: The event that starts the flow (e.g., a requirement being marked as “Ready for Review”).
- Logic & Rules: The “if-then” conditions (e.g., If the change costs > $10,000, then it requires a Director’s approval).
- Actions: The tasks performed by the system (e.g., sending a notification, creating a new baseline, or updating a status).
Critical Use Cases in Digital Engineering
1. Automated Change Management (ECR/ECO)
When a design change is proposed, the system automatically routes the request to the affected departments (Mechanical, Electrical, Software). It tracks approvals and only allows the change to proceed once all “Quality Gates” are cleared.
2. Review and Approval Cycles
Instead of waiting for a weekly meeting, the system pushes documents to reviewers as soon as they are ready. It sends reminders for pending tasks and escalates them if deadlines are missed.
3. Requirements Validation & Sign-off
Ensuring that no requirement reaches the manufacturing stage without being fully validated and digitally signed, maintaining a compliant audit trail automatically.
4. Data Synchronization
Automating the movement of data between tools (e.g., automatically updating the BOM in the ERP system once it is finalized in the PLM).
The Benefits of Automation in PLM
| Benefit | Impact on the Digital Thread |
| Increased Speed | Eliminates “wait time” between tasks, cutting days or weeks from the schedule. |
| Error Reduction | Removes the risk of human forgetfulness or manual data entry mistakes. |
| Full Accountability | Every action, approval, and rejection is timestamped and logged for audits. |
| Focus on Innovation | Engineers spend less time on administrative “busy work” and more time on design. |
How Visure Solutions Drives Workflow Automation
Visure Requirements ALM Platform provides a powerful workflow engine designed specifically for complex engineering environments:
- Customizable Workflows: Design your own processes to match your company’s unique culture and regulatory needs (e.g., specialized flows for medical device compliance).
- Role-Based Routing: Automatically assign tasks based on roles (Lead Engineer, Quality Manager, Stakeholder), ensuring the correct level of authority for every decision.
- Automatic Notifications: Keep everyone in the loop with real-time alerts via email or platform notifications, reducing bottlenecks.
- Integrity Enforcement: Use the workflow engine to “lock” requirements once they are approved, preventing unauthorized changes and maintaining the “Single Source of Truth.”
- Audit-Ready History: Visure automatically generates a complete history of the workflow, showing exactly who approved what and when—perfect for ISO, FDA, or INCOSE audits.
Conclusion: Orchestrating Efficiency
Workflow Process Automation is the final piece of the Digital Engineering puzzle. It turns static data into a dynamic, living process that drives itself toward completion. By automating the routine, companies can master the complex, ensuring that their engineering excellence is backed by operational precision.
With Visure, your processes are not just documented; they are executed. We provide the automation framework that gives your teams the freedom to innovate while the system handles the discipline of the process.
Check out the 14-day free trial at Visure and experience how AI-driven change control can help you manage changes faster, safer, and with full audit readiness.
