Engineering & Change Management template
Product Change Notification (PCN) Template: Build & Export Free
Notify customers of a product change (what's changing, why, the impact and the timeline), then export a print-ready PCN as a PDF, free to start.
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A live Product Change Notice rendered from this template, and yours opens the same way, in your brand, and exports to a clean PDF.
Overview
What is a product change notification?
A product change notification (PCN) is how a manufacturer tells its customers that a product they buy is changing: a change to the specification, materials, process, form, fit or function, or that the product is being discontinued. It gives customers time to assess the impact and re-qualify before the change reaches them.
A good PCN is specific and gives enough lead time. It identifies the affected products by part number, describes and classifies the change, assesses the impact on the customer, offers samples and any qualification or reliability data, and states the key dates: when the change takes effect and the last date to order the old version. In electronics, PCNs commonly follow the JEDEC JESD46 standard.
PCNs are standard in electronics, components and regulated supply chains. They're the outward-facing counterpart to an internal engineering change: an ECO/ECN implements the change inside the company, and a PCN notifies the customers who need to know (more below).
The fields
What to include in a product change notification
A PCN customers can act on is specific, classified and well-timed. These are the fields they expect, and all of them are in the template.
PCN number and date
A unique notification number and issue date, so it can be referenced and tracked.
Affected products
The affected products by part number, so a customer can tell immediately whether they're impacted.
Description of change
A clear description of what is changing about the product.
Reason and type of change
Why the change is being made and its type: design, process, materials, site, discontinuation.
Change classification
Whether it's major or minor, and whether form, fit or function is affected.
Impact to the customer
How the change could affect the customer's use, qualification or supply.
Samples and qualification data
Availability of samples and any qualification or reliability data supporting the change.
Key dates
The notification date, the last-time-buy or last-order date, and the effectivity date of the change.
Customer action requested
What the customer needs to do: acknowledge, approve, re-qualify or place a last-time buy.
Contact
Who to contact with questions or to arrange samples and qualification.
Step by step
How to write a product change notification
Four passes take you from a blank template to a clear, customer-ready PCN.
Identify the products and change
Add the PCN number and date, list the affected products by part number, and describe the change and the reason for it.
Classify and assess impact
Classify the change (major/minor, form-fit-function) and assess how it affects the customer's use, qualification and supply.
Set the timeline and samples
State the key dates (notification, last-time-buy and effectivity) and the availability of samples and qualification data.
Add the action and contact, export
State the customer action requested and the contact, then export a print-ready PDF to send to affected customers.
Which one
PCN vs. SCN
Both notify a customer of a change, at different tiers of the supply chain. It comes down to who's telling whom.
Product Change Notice
A manufacturer's notice to its customers that a product they buy is changing, with the classification, impact, timeline and requested action.
Use to notify your customers of a change to a product you make.
Supplier Change Notification
A supplier's notification to its customer of a change on the supplier's end, closely related but emphasizing the supplier-to-customer direction.
Use when you, as a supplier, must notify a customer of your change.
See the Supplier Change Notification template →Get it right
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too little lead time for customers to assess and re-qualify.
- An unclear change classification (major/minor, form-fit-function).
- No impact assessment, so customers can't tell if they're affected.
- No samples or qualification data to support the change.
- Missing last-time-buy or effectivity dates.
- Not identifying every affected part number.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is a product change notification?
A product change notification (PCN) is a formal notice from a manufacturer to its customers that a product is changing: its specification, materials, process, form/fit/function, or that it's being discontinued. It gives customers time to assess the impact and re-qualify before the change reaches them.
What's the difference between a PCN and an ECN?
An ECN (engineering change notice/order) is the internal document that implements a change inside the company. A PCN is the external notice that tells customers about a change to a product they buy. The ECN changes the product; the PCN communicates it to those who need to know.
What's the difference between a PCN and an SCN?
They're closely related, often used interchangeably. A product change notification is typically a manufacturer notifying its customers of a change to a product; a supplier change notification emphasizes a supplier notifying its customer of a change on the supplier's side. Both communicate a change and request customer action.
What is JEDEC JESD46?
JESD46 is a JEDEC standard that defines the requirements and format for product/process change notifications in the electronics industry: what a PCN must contain, how much notice to give, and how customers respond. Many electronics suppliers follow it so PCNs are consistent across the supply chain.
How much notice should a PCN give?
Enough for customers to assess the change and re-qualify if needed, and to place a last-time buy of the old version if they must. The exact notice period depends on the change, the industry and any customer agreements or standards (such as JESD46); major changes generally require more lead time.
Related templates
Read the guideEngineering change: ECR, ECN and PCN explained
Change control keeps a product’s documentation honest as the product evolves. Here’s the difference between an ECR, an ECN and a PCN, what an engineering change notice contains, and how a controlled change flows from request to updated documents.
Read the guide →Documents that go with a Product Change Notice
Supplier Change Notification (SCN)
Communicates a supplier-originated change that may affect a supplied product, material, component, process, location or specification.
Open template →Engineering Change Notice (ECN)
Communicates an approved engineering change, affected items, before-and-after details, effectivity, implementation and release information.
Open template →End-of-Life / Product Discontinuation Notice
Communicates that a product is being discontinued and provides key dates, affected products, replacement guidance and last-order information.
Open template →Build your Product Change Notice now
Fill in the fields, apply your brand, and export a clean PDF. Free to start.
Note: This template gives you a structured starting point for a product change notification. You remain responsible for the accuracy of the change details, classification, impact and dates, and for meeting your customers' and any applicable industry notification requirements.