A repeat order has two possible shapes: a one-message job that starts with “20,000 more from die K-2041”, or weeks of “which drawing was it, which revision was final?”. The difference is archive discipline. This guide covers die numbering, file naming, the die card and the physical archive.

Every die gets exactly one number

The archive rests on a unique number assigned to each die at production: K-2041, for instance. The number is written on the die itself, embedded in the drawing file and stated on the delivery note. On a reorder the customer quotes only that number — the product name, dimensions and revision discussion never opens.

Variants of the same job — a copy for another machine, a layout with a different station count — each get their own number. A job ordered as “similar to the old die” lives in the archive as two separate records.

  • The die number is identical on the die, in the file and on the delivery note.
  • A reorder is one line: die number + quantity + deadline.
  • Every variant gets its own number; nothing is filed as “similar to”.

The file name carries four facts: job, number, revision, date

A working die file follows this layout: “customer-productbox-K2041-R2-2026-06.pdf”. The job name serves people, the die number serves the archive, the revision number serves production and the date serves sorting. Names like “final.pdf” and “new-final2.pdf” are the best-known source of wrong-die production.

When a revision lands, the old file is not deleted — it moves to a cancelled folder. The active folder holds exactly one file per die, so the question of which file goes to production never arises.

  • File name = job name + die number + revision + date.
  • The active folder holds one file per die, no exceptions.
  • Old revisions are moved to a cancelled folder, never deleted.

The record is more than the file: keep a die card

A drawing alone does not describe production. The die card records: the material and grammage cut, the machine it ran on, rule and creasing details, the rubbering note, the approved sample photo, and lessons learned during the run (“added a nick at the lower right corner”).

With that card, a repeat run skips the first run’s trial and error: the die goes onto the machine with the same settings and the first stroke is already right.

  • The die card joins material, machine, rule, rubber and sample records.
  • Settings learned during the run are noted on the card.
  • A repeat run with a card skips the first run’s trial phase.

The physical archive: dies and samples stored under their label

Physical order matters as much as the digital record. Dies are stored in number order, flat and dry, with the number readable from the shelf. One approved sample is labelled with the same number and kept with the record.

Every die returning from use is inspected: rule edge, rubber condition, board flatness. Wear notes go on the card — so on the next reorder, the question “is this die still fit for production?” is already answered.

  • Dies are stored flat and dry, in number order, labels readable.
  • The approved sample is labelled with the same die number.
  • Post-use wear checks are recorded on the die card.

Quote details we clarify together

When the file, material, quantity and deadline are clear, the quote conversation moves faster and with less back-and-forth.

  • Current revision file
  • Material and quantity details
  • Critical dimensions or production notes
  • Deadline expectation and delivery preference