Custom production shop with design changes

New user here...

We are a lean custom equipment design and manufacture division. After design output (ala drawings) are verified and approved for manufacture, the responsible production lead person does what he has to do to get the equipment built...the show must go on!

If he notes an error in the drawing/ schematic, but he is qualified to make necessary changes to make it work (e.g. different size bolt or electronic component), do we have to go through the complete design review mill before he resumes production?

Changes would be recorded on the drawing by the lead person and forwarded to design for revision at a later date.

Wallace,
We currently do the same thing you are doing. It is called "as-built". The customer understands that this is the norm, and that they will get a full set of up to date drawings that reflect just how their equipment was built. The difference here is that the Project Engineer is involved with the project from start to finish. That foregoes, in our opinion, any further design review. After all, the PE has approval on all changes. Our assemblers, welders, etc., are empowered to find ways to do it easier, faster or better. They just have to clear it with the Engineer. Works very well. You have to be careful if you work with customer drawings, or they require approval on changes you have have previously submitted.
This is only for situations such as you describe. Hole sizes, hardware, structural modifications (weldments). Major component or design revisions are strictly engineering functions which includes another review of the design. So, IMHO, as long as approval authority (Engineering) is aware of minor changes that will be addressed at a later date, no full blown design review is necessary. Just state your practice in your "Design Control" procedure. You call the shots.

I think what you're doing is fine. Changes during production on your product should be expected, and you've limited the approval for changes. Make sure the changes are noted as to what they are and who made them, then have a final review after production is complete where the "design team" signs off and approves the changes based on final inspection/test results.

This should easily pass muster in the APQP type design flow (the review is the "feedback" part of the loop).