New Item Request - change in item number

Summary

Can Item Number be changed during New Item Request approval

Content

Customer's requirement is - 
Customer has a master data team that creates and maintains item data. The central master data team also controls item numbering. Various business units use the items for transactions and are best placed to know and define item information i.e. attributes (operational as well as user defined).
Customer wants to use new item request (NIR) to create items. They want business groups to provide item information however they don't want business units to decide item number which needs to be controlled centrally. So the requirement is to create an NIR by business user, route it to approval to Data Steward from master data team, Data Steward reviews, rejects/approves the NIR. Data Steward inputs the item number while finally approving the NIR.