Introduction
A Design Review is a scheduled, systematic evaluation of a design to steer the project toward successful completion. It is not just a meeting; it is a critical “Quality Gate” in the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process where experts assess the design against requirements, standards, and stakeholder expectations.
In Digital Engineering, the design review process has evolved. Instead of static documents, teams use 3D models, simulation results, and live requirement traceability matrices to make informed, data-driven decisions.
The 3 Key Stages of a Design Review
A successful review follows a structured workflow to ensure nothing is missed:
1. The Preparation Phase
Before the meeting, the design package (CAD models, BOMs, test results, and requirements) is shared with the reviewers.
- Goal: Allow participants to study the data and identify potential issues beforehand.
2. The Review Meeting
The lead engineer presents the design. Reviewers evaluate it based on:
- Functionality: Does it meet the requirements?
- Manufacturability (DfM): Can we build it efficiently?
- Safety & Compliance: Does it meet industry standards?
- Reliability: How will it perform over time?
3. The Follow-up Phase
All identified issues (action items) are logged. The design is either Approved, Approved with Changes, or Rejected. The cycle isn’t complete until all critical actions are closed.
Main Types of Design Reviews
Throughout the lifecycle, different reviews serve different purposes:
- PDR (Preliminary Design Review): Conducted early to ensure the technical approach is sound before significant resources are committed.
- CDR (Critical Design Review): A detailed, multi-disciplined review to verify that the design is mature enough to move into full-scale fabrication or software coding.
- Peer Review: A less formal, technical session between colleagues to catch logic errors or suggest optimizations at the “unit” level.
- Final Design Review: The last check before mass production or product launch.
The Digital Advantage: Modernizing the Review
Digital Engineering transforms the review process from a “moment in time” to a continuous activity:
| Traditional Review | Digital/PLM Review |
| Based on printed drawings and PDFs. | Based on 3D Models and Digital Twins. |
| Errors often found too late to fix cheaply. | Simulation catches errors before the review. |
| Minutes and actions lost in emails. | Actions tracked and linked in the PLM system. |
| Disconnected from requirements. | Live traceability shows if every goal is met. |
How Visure Solutions Orchestrates Design Reviews
Visure Requirements ALM Platform acts as the foundation for transparent and compliant design reviews:
- Electronic Signatures: Compliant with standards like FDA 21 CFR Part 11, Visure allows for official, legal sign-offs directly within the platform.
- Real-Time Review Comments: Reviewers can leave comments directly on requirements or design specifications, creating a permanent, auditable conversation thread.
- Baseline Management: Visure allows you to create a “Snapshot” or Baseline of the requirements at the time of the review, ensuring you have a record of exactly what was approved.
- Automated Action Tracking: Link “Action Items” found during a review to the specific requirement or test case, ensuring that no defect is forgotten or ignored.
Conclusion: Reviewing for Excellence
The Design Review Process is the ultimate safeguard against failure. By moving to a digital-first review strategy, companies don’t just find errors—they foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. It ensures that the final product is not just “finished,” but “right.”
With Visure, your design reviews are no longer administrative burdens. They are efficient, fully traceable, and integrated into your digital thread, giving you the confidence that every decision is backed by solid data and clear accountability.
Check out the 14-day free trial at Visure and experience how AI-driven change control can help you manage changes faster, safer, and with full audit readiness.
