This paper aims to rank the delay in submittal/approval process as a main cause of delay, in addition to identify and asses the factors leading to such delay. A list of shop drawing delay causes retrieved from literature review in addition to the feedback of construction experts that was obtained through interviews. Then a questionnaire survey was prepared and distributed among forty-one companies representing different types of parties. Among twenty-four delay causes discussed, causes related to the engineering submittal/approval process were identified from the top delay causes. Twenty-five Factors leading delay in submittal/approval process were divided into two major groups: submittal of twenty-five delay causes and approval of eighteen delay causes. Frequency Index, Severity Index, and Importance Index were deduced and accordingly the top shop drawing delay causes of construction projects are determined. The test results reveal good correlation between groups. Frame work was developed as an effective solution for engineering shop drawing submittal/approval process delay. The proposed shop drawing framework is designed and developed based on the knowledge obtained from literature, observation of professionals and the identified top factors. The framework consists of three sequential phases: design/coordination review phase, shop drawing preparation /submission phase and shop drawing reviewing/approval phase. After developing the framework, it was validated on a case study to see the effectiveness of the frame work on the case study and how it helps in solving the problems of delaying submittals/approval process and the progress after implementation of the framework was assessed.