Every practice checks drawings before issue. Fewer do it systematically, which is why the same categories of error keep reaching clients and contractors. A structured pass, done by someone who did not draw the set, catches most of them.
Check in layers, not all at once
Trying to check everything simultaneously means catching nothing thoroughly. Separate passes work better.
Completeness. Is every sheet on the index present, and is every sheet present on the index? Are all the views that were meant to be produced actually there? Are title blocks complete with correct revision, date, scale and status?
Coordination. Do plans, sections and elevations agree? Do the schedules match what is drawn? Does the room name on the plan match the finish schedule? Do the details referenced from a section actually exist, and do their callouts point to the right place?
Dimensional integrity. Do dimension strings close? Do overall dimensions match the sum of their parts? Are there conflicting dimensions between sheets? Are critical dimensions present at all?
Technical. Do wall types have ratings where needed? Are assemblies referenced properly? Are accessibility clearances shown correctly? Do egress widths and travel distances hold?
Presentation. Is text legible at printed size? Are line weights distinguishing hierarchy? Are hatches consistent? Are there overlapping annotations or text over geometry?
Print it
Errors invisible on screen become obvious on paper. Text that reads fine zoomed in disappears at issue size, line weights that looked distinct merge, and clashes between annotation and geometry surface immediately. If the set will be printed, check it printed at least once.
Use fresh eyes
The person who drew the set has seen every sheet too many times to see it clearly. Someone else, ideally someone senior, will spot in ten minutes what the author has looked past for a week. This is the single most effective quality measure available and the one most often skipped under deadline.
Keep a running list of recurring errors
Most practices repeat the same handful of mistakes. Writing them down turns a general check into a specific one, and the list becomes a genuinely useful checklist over time. It also feeds back into templates, since a recurring error often signals a template that makes the error easy to commit.
Check the revision, not just the drawing
On revised issues, confirm that the revision cloud matches what actually changed, that the revision schedule is updated, and that superseded information has genuinely been removed rather than left in a corner of a sheet nobody revisited.
Build the time into the programme rather than hoping it fits at the end. A set issued clean saves far more time than the check consumes.