Barry,
For what it's worth here are my two bits:

Start with opening a dialog between design, your PCB vendor(s), and the
assembly side of the operation, or CM.
Questions you might ask the board house:
-What are their standard material sizes?
-How much border/waste area do they need for their processing? (Tooling
holes etc.)
Questions you might ask your assembler (captive or contract);
-What is the preferred break out method, tab & route, v score, etc.
-Can they use the same tooling holes as the PCB vendor?
-Will a one up or an array work better in their process flow?
Questions for the designers;
- Can the design fit on one of the PCB stock material standard sizes?
- Can a multiple of the design make better usage of materials?
The most important part is to get the dialog going. Once all involved
parties express their needs compromises can be worked out and you will
hopefully optimize the design/manufacturer process.

Having a standard is good as long as it doesn't handcuff you. You may even
be able to find publications already available. (Try a search of the T-net
archive look for DFM, design for manufacture.)

Document what you learn. I prefer "base line" documents to standards, there
always seams to be an exception to the "standard". Base line type documents
serve as a design starting point while still allowing flexibility under ISO
and other Quality systems.

Dan

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