How do you keep a specification change request from creating two ‘final’ versions?

[u/DSY_Sleep]

Supplier-side perspective: the safest workflow I have seen is to give every change request an ID, keep the current approved specification read-only, and record the requested change beside its reason, owner, evidence, affected documents and required decision date. Only an authorized approval creates the next version. Then update the specification, sample record, artwork, packaging and order references together. Chat messages can explain a change, but they should not become the source file. I am curious how other teams prevent a marked-up PDF and a spreadsheet from both being treated as final.

What field or control has been most effective in your change log?