This paper aims to study the methodology of building the knowledge of planning adequate punches in order to complete the task of strip layout for shearing processes, using progressive dies. The usage of superimposition of punches for planning strip layout is widely accepted among progressive die designers; however the huge number of combinations of punches may turn this easy-to-understand process into a nightmare. The proposed methodology uses die design rules and characteristics of different types of punches to classify them into five groups: prior use (the punches must be used first), posterior use (must be used last), compatible use (may be used together), sequential use (certain punches must precede some others), and simultaneous use (must be used together). With these five groups of punches, the searching space of feasible designs will be greatly reduced, and superimposition becomes a more effective method of punch layout. The superimposition scheme may generate many feasible solutions. Although none of them really violates die design rules, some of them are just better than others. An evaluation function based on number of stages, moment balancing and strip stability is developed. For meeting different designers’ preferences, these three factors are coupled with various weightings, so, designers can fine tune and find better results. The whole process is not only to provide a new approach to solving the superimposition puzzles, but also to try to integrate the die design rules and designer's personal experience, which should be extremely helpful in speedier progressive die design.