"doomed" ? ... isn't this just two people with different opinions about how something should be ... without the full knowledge of the system ... and a system that seems to be very "flexible" (a good thing and a bad thing !) So it comes down to "who's paying ?"
the other guy is your supplier ... what's their beef ? Presumably you've given them a drawing to make, and they don't like the format ?? If they've accepted a PO to make a part, they should follow the drawing, if they have questions (about the design intent, not format) then they can ask.
Is it that big of a deal for you ? Is this the hill you 're prepared to die on ?? You don't have the full understanding of Boeing's drawing format, neither do they.
But as I write that I'm thinking ... why is this a Boeing issue ? Are you working at Boeing ? for Boeing ? or something else ??
If you're not part of Boeing, then why are you modifying a Boeing part, within Boeing's drawing scheme ?? Of course you can modify a Boeing part, but then it's your's. Or are you remaking a Boeing part , like a PMA ?
If you are part of Boeing, then ask the right people there (not us).
Serialization when required also stated on the drawing or flow down from the purchase order.
Is traceability and is recorded when assembled in a shipset.
Requiring but not limited to certifications to/for material, heat treat , quality requirements, all plating/coating, NDT
Operations, and more
in Boeing it is "slightly different" - drawings no more have references to airplane configuration because it is supervised by separate computer system and company have stopped using drawing data for this purposes, the same is with manufacturing notes - currently they are existing in teamcenter not on the 2D drawings this is for legacy products, for 787 it is totally different - no more 2D data exist, only 3D files and Teamcenter data