GlossaryKind of term: Cost and economicsRepeat order
What is a repeat order?
A repeat order is a new order for a part you have made before, at the same revision, so the program and the route usually exist already.
It may come as a new request or as a direct purchase order; what makes it a repeat is the same part number at the same revision. Program, setup sheet and any dedicated fixture are often still there, and the route is known. If the part comes back at a higher revision, a drawing change lies between the previous order and this one, and the previous estimate only holds after a comparison with what you made before.
How does a repeat order work in practice?
On a repeat order part of the one-off costs falls away. Programming time can be small or disappear altogether, provided the program runs on the same machine and control and the tooling and workholding have not changed; move the part to another machine and the program often has to be post-processed again or adapted. Setup still happens per batch, although a setup sheet and known workholding often make it quicker. Material, subcontract operations and hourly rates may have moved since the last price. A different quantity from last time mainly shifts how much of the one-off costs each part carries. The previous estimate is a good starting point, not a substitute for a new one.
What is a repeat order often confused with?
A repeat order is not an order with a drawing change: on a repeat order the revision is unchanged, after a drawing change it is not. A call-off is different again: it is a partial delivery under a framework agreement at a price already agreed, while a repeat order can get a new price.
How do you see a repeat order in Blake?
In Blake you compare a part that comes back with its last priced estimate. The new result, like the previous one, is labelled as an estimate. More on estimating.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to estimate a repeat order again?
Yes, but not from scratch. Route and program usually carry over; check material price, subcontract operations, hourly rates and the quantity asked for, and whether the part runs on the same machine.
How do I know it really is the same part?
By part number and revision in the title block, not by the file name. If the revision has moved on, a drawing change lies in between: read the revision table first. Even at the same revision, check it briefly against the previous drawing.
Why can a repeat order cost more than last time?
Because material, subcontracting or hourly rates may have risen, or the customer asks for fewer parts, so each carries more setup. It can go the other way too: a larger quantity or an existing program can lower the price per piece.