One project can quickly create several drawings
A quotation drawing, a marked-up review copy and a final approved drawing may all look similar. If the revision is not controlled, purchasing, manufacturing and inspection can easily refer to different versions.
Give every approved change a visible reference
When a dimension, material note, thread, hole or assembly relationship changes, the updated drawing should carry a new revision or another clear identifier. Avoid relying only on email history to explain which file is current.
Use the same revision in quotation and order
The quotation should state the drawing or specification reference used for review. When the order is confirmed, compare the purchase information with the same reference before work is arranged.
Inspection also depends on revision control
A measurement record is useful only when it is tied to the correct requirement. If an acceptance dimension changed between revisions, the inspection scope should change with it.
Repeat orders need the history
For a repeat purchase, start from the last approved revision and then identify any new change. This is safer than sending an old file with a note saying that several dimensions are different.
