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Document Numbering Standard

   
Document No. JDS-QMS-001
Revision D
Date 2026-03-25
Status APPROVED
Author Nils Johansson

1. Purpose

This standard defines how every document in JDS is identified with a unique, permanent number. The numbering system tells you three things at a glance:

  1. What type of document it is (report, drawing, procedure…)
  2. What engineering domain it belongs to (mechanical, marine, automation…)
  3. Which specific document it is (sequential number)

2. Number Format

2.1 Technical Documents (with domain code)

Documents that relate to a specific engineering discipline carry a domain code:

JDS - [CAT] - [DOM] - [NNN]
  │      │       │       │
  │      │       │       └── Sequential number (001-999)
  │      │       └────────── Engineering domain (3 letters)
  │      └────────────────── Document category (3 letters)
  └───────────────────────── System prefix (always JDS)

Examples:

JDS-DWG-MEC-001    Drawing, Mechanical, #001 (e.g. a flange adapter)
JDS-RPT-MAR-003    Report, Marine, #003 (e.g. engine room inspection)
JDS-DWG-AUT-002    Drawing, Automation, #002 (e.g. sensor bracket)
JDS-PRJ-FAB-001    Project, Fabrication, #001 (e.g. 3D printing project)

2.2 System Documents (without domain code)

Documents that govern the system itself (procedures, templates, quality manual) don’t need a domain code:

JDS - [CAT] - [NNN]

Examples:

JDS-QMS-001    Quality system document
JDS-PRO-003    Procedure
JDS-TMP-005    Template

2.3 When to Use a Domain Code

Uses domain code No domain code
DWG (Drawings & Models) QMS (Quality Management)
RPT (Reports) PRO (Procedures)
MAN (Manuals) TMP (Templates)
PRJ (Project Documents)  
LOG (Logs & Records)  
COR (Correspondence)  
BLG (Blog Posts) — optional  
TSH (Timesheets) — optional  
EXP (Expenses) — optional  

For blog posts, timesheets, and expenses, the domain code is optional. Use it if the content is discipline-specific (e.g., JDS-BLG-MEC-001 for a mechanical engineering article), omit it for general or cross-discipline records (e.g., JDS-BLG-001).

2.4 With Revision

Append the revision letter when referencing a specific version:

JDS-DWG-MEC-001 Rev B

3. Engineering Domain Codes

These codes identify which engineering discipline a document belongs to. Just by reading the code, you know the context.

Code Domain Typical Work
MEC Mechanical Pumps, valves, flanges, brackets, mechanical assemblies, general mechanical parts
MAR Marine Ship systems, engine room equipment, maritime regulations, vessel maintenance
AUT Automation & Controls PLC, HMI, sensors, control panels, wiring, instrumentation
ELE Electrical Power distribution, wiring, motors, generators, electrical panels
PIP Piping Pipe systems, fittings, P&IDs, flow diagrams
STR Structural Frames, supports, mounts, enclosures, load-bearing structures
TST Testing & Measurement Test fixtures, calibration tools, measurement setups, test reports
FAB Fabrication & Prototyping 3D printed parts, CNC parts, proof-of-concept builds, workshop projects
THR Thermal & HVAC Heat exchangers, cooling systems, ventilation, insulation
SFW Software Software tools, scripts, applications, code documentation
GEN General Cross-discipline or doesn’t fit a specific domain

3.1 Choosing the Right Domain

Pick the domain that best describes the primary subject of the document. If a report covers both mechanical and electrical work, choose the one that’s the main focus. Use GEN only when it truly spans multiple domains equally.

3.2 Reading a Full Document Number

JDS - DWG - MEC - 005
 │     │     │     │
 │     │     │     └── 5th drawing in the Mechanical domain
 │     │     └──────── Mechanical engineering
 │     └────────────── It's a drawing/model document
 └──────────────────── Johansson Documentation System

At a glance: “This is Nils’s 5th mechanical engineering drawing.”

4. Document Categories

Code Category Use for
QMS Quality Management System Quality manual, policies, standards, audit docs
PRO Procedures Step-by-step work procedures and routines
RPT Reports Field service reports, inspection reports, technical reports
MAN Manuals Technical manuals, user guides, reference documents
DWG Drawings & Models Engineering drawings, 3D model specs, BOMs
PRJ Project Documents Project plans, scope of work, specifications
TSH Timesheets Weekly/monthly time records, labour summaries
EXP Expenses Expense reports, travel claims, purchase records
TMP Templates Blank templates for any document type
LOG Logs & Records Equipment logs, maintenance records, calibration records
COR Correspondence Formal letters, proposals, quotations, contracts
BLG Blog Posts Published blog articles, tracked and revision-controlled

5. File Naming Convention

Files on disk follow this pattern:

JDS-DWG-MEC-001_flange-adapter-dn50.md
JDS-RPT-MAR-003_engine-room-inspection.md
JDS-PRO-001_document-creation.md

Rules for the short description:

6. Number Assignment Rules

6.1 Sequential Numbering

Numbers are assigned sequentially within each category-domain combination, starting from 001:

JDS-DWG-MEC-001  (first mechanical drawing)
JDS-DWG-MEC-002  (second mechanical drawing)
JDS-DWG-AUT-001  (first automation drawing — separate sequence)

6.2 Numbers Are Permanent

6.3 Where to Get the Next Number

Check the Document Registry for the last used number in your category-domain, then use the next one. Update the registry immediately.

7. Revision Identifiers

Identifier Meaning
DRAFT Work in progress, not approved
Rev A First approved release
Rev B Second approved release
Rev C, D, E… Subsequent approved releases

7.1 Revision Rules

8. Special Numbering

8.1 Templates

Templates use the TMP category with a target category code instead of a domain code. The target code identifies what type of document the template produces:

JDS-TMP-[TARGET]-[NNN]

JDS-TMP-RPT-001    Template for Reports
JDS-TMP-TSH-001    Template for Timesheets
JDS-TMP-LOG-001    Template for Logs & Records
JDS-TMP-DWG-001    Template for Drawings
JDS-TMP-PRJ-001    Template for Project Documents

This way you can tell at a glance what kind of document a template creates. Numbering is sequential within each target category (RPT-001, RPT-002, etc.).

8.2 Blog Posts

Blog posts carry a JDS number in the front matter:

---
layout: post
title: "Article Title"
date: 2026-03-25
jds_no: JDS-BLG-MEC-001
revision: A
---

The domain code tells readers which engineering area the post covers.

8.3 Project-Specific Documents

For large projects, you may optionally add a project code:

JDS-RPT-MEC-015-PROJ01_commissioning-report.md

9. Quick Decision Guide

I need to… Category Example domain
Document a 3D model or drawing DWG MEC, STR, FAB
Write up a field service job RPT MAR, TST, MEC
Describe how to do something PRO (no domain)
Track my hours TSH (optional domain)
Claim expenses EXP (optional domain)
Write a reference guide MAN AUT, ELE, SFW
Plan a project PRJ MEC, FAB, SFW
Record maintenance LOG MAR, MEC
Write a client letter COR GEN, MEC
Create a blank form TMP (target category code, e.g. TMP-RPT)
Define a system rule QMS (no domain)
Publish a blog article BLG (optional: MEC, MAR, SFW)

Revision History

Rev Date Author Description
A 2026-03-25 Nils Johansson Initial release
B 2026-03-25 Nils Johansson Renamed JEDS to JDS. Added engineering domain codes. Restructured numbering format.
C 2026-03-25 Nils Johansson Templates now use target category codes (JDS-TMP-RPT-001 instead of JDS-TMP-001).
D 2026-03-25 Nils Johansson BLG domain code changed from required to optional (aligns with existing blog posts).