The correct answer isDbecause anydeviation from the approved specification, code requirement, purchase document, or design basismust be formally accepted by theresponsible engineer, not simply by manufacturing, quality, or inspection personnel. In source inspection practice, the manufacturer’s engineer may identify or propose a deviation, and the vendor’s quality manager may document it within the nonconformance system, but neither of them has final authority to approve a change that affects design intent, technical compliance, or purchaser requirements. The inspection coordinator also manages logistics and communication, but is not the technical approval authority.
This is a fundamental principle in API-aligned source inspection and surveillance. The source inspector verifies conformance to the approved drawings, specifications, and referenced standards. When a deviation is found, it must be handled through the formal deviation or concession process and resolved by the party with technical design responsibility. That is why theresponsible engineeris the correct approving authority. This preserves engineering accountability, maintains traceability, and ensures that any departure from specification is technically evaluated before acceptance. Therefore,option Dis the verified answer.
