A pre-production approval system could connect each sample to the specification and revision it represents. Reviewers need to know exactly what they are approving and whether their decision applies to appearance, dimensions or another defined aspect.
Comments should remain linked to the correct version. An approval may have conditions, and a later change may require another review. Production staff need a clear view of the approved version without navigating private draft discussions.
Pilot one product's sample cycle and test a rejected sample, a conditional approval and a change after sign-off. The system should preserve the decision history and unresolved points. Uploading a new file must not automatically replace the specification that production has been authorised to use.
Related reading: Manufacturing Software Solutions.