Universal Drawing Number System
Quick Disclaimer
This tool was designed for my company, a Design and Detailing service provider. I mention this because our needs are different from the average company in that we work with multiple manufacturing companies, all with different products and projects. This created the need for a customer and project specific Drawing number system with a large set of different components.
B2B or B2C?
If you are a B2B (Business to Business) Company, you likely have the same requirements. If that is the case, I would recommend using the format as-is, changing only the Project Section to match what you already have. (See Example 1)
If you are B2C (Business to Customer), I would recommend omitting the Customer ID Section, resulting in a shorter Drawing number. (See Example 2)
(Example 1: B2B)
(Example 2: B2C)
So How Does it work?
The structure of the Numbering System is as follows:
Company Name ID - Project – Sub-Assembly - Component - Iteration.
Company ID IDD1-0000-000-0000-001
This is the name of the client/company you are dealing with shortened to 3 letters and a number. If you are B2C just omit this section, and continue to the Project Numbering Section.
Why the number? Sometimes names are very close to each other resulting in similar abbreviations.
For example:
Industrial Design and Detailing = IDD
Innovative Design Development = IDD.
The abbreviations to these two Company Names are the same, therefore by adding a number allows you to distinguish between them.
Industrial Design and Detailing = IDD1
Innovative Design Development = IDD2.
Frankly anything can be slotted in here. If you already have a company ID system you like, just use that.
Some more examples:
Project IDD1-200S-000-0000-001
This is rather self-explanatory. The recommended numbering sequence for a client Project is numbering the first project 0001 and moving on to 0002 then 0003 and so on. If you already have a numbering system for your projects just slot it in right here. If you are B2C this would be equal to your model number.
Some examples:
Component IDD1-200S-C01-S001-001
The Component sheet is set up with 999 Variations for Alphabetic Character, eg. (A001-A999). Should more entries/variations be required the second Numerical Character can be replaced with an Alphabetic character, similar to the Sub-Assembly Section.
For Example: (AA01, AB01, AZ01) Applying the above principle will provide an additional 2574 (99x26) entries. This should be more than ample, but if you require more variations, another Numeric character can be replaced by an Alphabetic character eg. AAA1 and AAAA.
Some examples:
The first Alphabetic character of the Component dictates its position in the list.
For Example: “Actuator” starts with the Alphabetic character “A”, hence it goes in the A-column. This means that the Sub-Assembly Number for “Actuator” is: “A001”
“Chassis” starts with the Alphabetic character “C”, hence it goes in the C-column. This means that the Sub-Assembly Number for “Chassis” is: “C001”.
Iteration TRE1-200S-C01-S001-001
The final numerical characters are used to distinguish between two designs with a similar function.
For Example:
IDD1-001A-B01-A002-001
IDD1-001A-B01-A002-002
Above is the Drawing Number for two designs of different “Angle Brackets” which are components for a “Brake System” for the company Industrial Design and Detailing. The Drawing Number with the Iteration number ending with “-001” refers to the first design of an Angle Bracket. The Drawing Number with the Iteration number ending with “-002” refers to a different design of an Angle Bracket within the same sub-assembly. This is not to be confused with revision, the revision number is indicated on the drawing sheet template.
The Iteration number simply refers to a different design of components with similar functions.
Part IDD1-0001-000-0000-001-P-001
On occasion you need multiple parts to construct a component, this can be achieved by adding the “P” for Part followed by the part design iteration number.
An assembly of Parts are referred to as a component, and an assembly of components are referred to as a Sub-assembly, an assembly of sub-assemblies are referred to as a General Assembly.
For Example:
Parts for a Brake Base Component;
Brake Base Bottom Plate - (IDD1-001A-B01-B002-001-P-001)
Brake Base Centre Plate - (IDD1-001A-B01-B002-001-P-002)
Brake Base Top Plate - (IDD1-001A-B01-B002-001-P-003)
Brake Base Component Drawing Number: (IDD1-001A-B01-B002-001)
Brake System Sub-Assembly Drawing Number: (IDD1-001A-B01-0000-001)
General Assembly - What about the Zeros?
The Numerical Character, “Zeros”, are reserved for the General Assemblies. General Assemblies refers to the Main Assembly, this will be the Product for which the Client has requested Drawings for.
For Example: Referring back to the “Angle Bracket” example.
The Brake System Assembly is made up of a Brake Stand and a Base Sub-assembly, eg.
Angle Bracket - (IDD1-001A-B01-A002-001) and
Base Sub-assembly - (IDD1-001A-B01-B001-001).
Both of these components are assembled in the Brake System Assembly resulting in the following drawing number
Brake System Assembly - (IDD1-001A-B01-0000-001)
Moving further up the assembly tree we have what is referred to as the General Assembly or GA for short. GA’s are assemblies consisting of sub-assemblies as well as all the Components (eg. fasteners) and Buy-outs in a Project.
Because GA’s do not refer to any specific sub-assemblies their designation would be:
General Assembly for the Project - (IDD1-001A-000-0000-001)
Universal Assemblies
Universal Assemblies are Sub-Assemblies and Components that can be used in multiple projects across multiple companies.
An example of this would be if you were to create multiple machines containing a specific Coupling, the coupling would require a Guard. Once you have designed a guard, it might be possible to use the guard on a different assembly.
To create a Universal Component your first step would be to create a Universal Project.
Now, similar to how the Component can be utilised universally, the Sub-assembly can also be used universally if the scenario allows it. Let's create one for the Guard Component.
Company: Universal “Company” = UNV0
Project/Model: Universal “Project/Model” = 9999
SubAssembly: Coupling Guard (Starts with a C) = C04
Component: Guard (Starts with a G) = G001
Iteration: First Iteration (First Guard for this project) = 001
Therefore, a Universal Guard Component Drawing Number would be the following;
UNV0-9999-C04-G001-001
Now, similar to how the Component can be utilised universally, the Sub-assembly can also be used universally if the scenario allows it. Let's create one for the Guard Component.
For Example:
Company: Universal “Company” = UNV0
Project/Model: Universal “Project/Model” = 9999
SubAssembly: Coupling Guard (Starts with a C) = C04
Component: N/A (Should be 0000) = 0000
Iteration: First Iteration (First Guard for this project) = 001
Therefore, a Universal Coupling Guard Sub-assembly Drawing Number would be the following;
UNV0-9999-C04-0000-001
B2B
UNV0-9999-C04-G001-001
B2C
9999-C04-G001-001
This Coupling Guard can now be used across any project or client, which would save you time and in turn save your customer money.
Buyouts
Buyouts are rarely project or company specific, and usually have their own unique Part Numbering System.
Within your CAD software you will probably need a Project to save your Buyouts under. I would recommend the Project Number “BUY1” as it works for both the B2B and B2C.
Conclusion
This concludes the structure of the Drawing Number System, below an example that makes up the different elements that contribute to the Drawing Number System.
One last Example, combining all the information that was discussed;
Your Client, Ubuntu Desks, is requesting for a drawing on their Rectangular-Shaped Dining Table. This will be your third project for this client.
With the above information the following can be concluded;
Company ID - UBD1
Project ID - D003
The Bill of Materials and Drawing Number is identified for this design and can be categorised as follow;
Sub-Assembly - Steel Table Legs (UBD1-D003-S01-0000-001)
Wooden Tables (UBD1-D003-W01-0000-001)
Components - Steel Tubing (40 x 40 x 3 x 500 Square Tubing)
Square Table Top (UBD1-D003-W01-S002-001)
Buyouts - Fasteners (M8x15 Hexagon Bolt)
Universal - L-Brackets (UNV0-9999-W01-L002-001)
Once the Sub-Assemblies are done, and the main product is assembled into a general assembly(Table), the following drawing number will be assigned to the Project;
The General Assembly Drawing Number for Project D003 is;
D003 - Square-Shaped Dining Table (UBD1-D003-000-0000-001)
