Re: Equipment Change or Process Change?
Welcome to The Cove!

This is a good first question.
An equipment change is needed when the equipment can't perform the desired function. If a temperature change can't be ramped at the right speed, whether from hot to cold or cold to hot, the equipment would need to be altered in some way. It's up to the organization to find the right solution for that. It isn't part of the process unless the process is set to include an equipment change every time, or even occasionally, to meet the need. This could mean changing out a piece of hardware or software, for example, as part of a tool setup or performing PM. Even these are usually separate processes that are linked, so as to make the manufacturing process least complicated for the operator. That decision is up to the organization, though.
The process change involves the impact this has on the product or material during production. There are some materials and applications of treatments in some industries that demand specific controls in order to achieve the right physical properties, chemical stability or some other relevant outcome. The process addresses finding out what those requirements are, how they will be performed (methods once the equipment is ready to perform) and how to verify the requirements are being met (thermostats, timers, calibration, databases, logsheets or whatever).
I hope this helps!