B737-300
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Confusion; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Manuals
While working 1st shift Line when [I] received a gate call. The pilot noticed that the aileron looked fuzzy on the trailing edge. I notified Maintenance Control and they conferred in Technical Services; and all 3 of us reviewed [Structural Repair Manual] (SRM) and focused on sheet 4 notes (K) & (M) which gave the damage allowance. We failed to notice on page 2 'NOTE: critical areas (shaded) contact Boeing.' I deferred the item and released the aircraft. [I then] discovered that the damage was within the critical area. The note about the critical area was overlooked and the 'allowable damage' table was the focus of attention. The note should be in bold print on the figure page in the Structural Repair Manual.
A Maintenance Technician overlooked the note in the Structural Repair Manual and deferred damage that required Boeing approval.  At some point later this information he was advised of this information and the aircraft was repaired.