Drawing Set QA/QC Gate
Pre-issue reviews that scale past heroics
Runs a phase-based QA/QC gate before every issue set. Produces an issues register, a "what changed" summary, and archived QA artifacts — reducing coordination misses and the rework that comes from rushing drawings out the door.
INGREDIENTS
PROMPT
Create a skill called "Drawing Set QA/QC Gate" for an architecture practice. Before I issue a drawing set, you should: 1. Ask me the phase (DD, CD, Permit, Addendum) and generate a phase-specific checklist: sheet completeness, key notes present, schedules included, code summary linked, consultant coordination notes verified 2. For each finding, create an issues register entry with owner, closure date, and status (open / resolved / deferred) 3. Draft an Issue Set Change Summary: a short note listing what changed since the last issue — one version for internal use, one for external distribution 4. Archive all QA outputs alongside the issued set for traceability Checklist modules to include: sheet index and numbering, egress and life safety sheets, door/window/finish schedules, consultant coordination notes.
How It Works
Every architecture team has someone who "does a final check" before issue.
That person is usually overworked and operating on memory. This recipe
replaces heroic individual effort with a repeatable checklist: what sheets
exist, what key information is present, what changed since last issue, and
what coordination items are still open. It creates a register you can
actually track against.
What You Get
- Phase-specific checklist: sheet completeness, key notes, schedules, code summary links — tailored to DD, CD, or permit
- Issues register: every finding gets an owner, a closure date, and a status
- Issue Set Change Summary: a short document (internal + external versions) describing what changed since the last issue
- QA archive: audit output stored alongside the issued set for traceability
Setup Steps
- Select the phase for the current issue (DD, CD, Permit, Addendum)
- Choose checklist modules: sheet index and numbering, egress and life safety sheets, door/window/finish schedules, consultant coordination notes
- Run the gate before the set goes out
- Resolve or defer issues in the register before signing off
Tips
- Run this gate for significant addenda too — not just major milestones
- The Change Summary saves more time than you expect; it prevents "what's different?" emails from the contractor
- If your team reports repeated RFIs about missing or unclear documentation, add those items to the checklist as permanent checks
- Pair with the Drawings–Specs Coordination Audit recipe for comprehensive pre-issue coverage