Among manufacturers, quoting standards vary widely… 

Some shops rely on an estimator to manually produce quotes, which means they don’t yet have a precise system for vetting and processing those quotes. Other shops may have a fully automated quoting system that can produce quotes instantly, yet they lack a nuanced understanding of the actual parts they’re quoting. 

At our machine shop in Georgia, we draw the best features from both ends of this spectrum to offer a mutually beneficial quoting process that bridges the gap between human interaction and efficient automation.

Common Challenges with the Manufacturing Quoting Process 

Customers generally have several common—and valid—complaints about the manufacturing quoting process: 

• Slow response times. Customers expect a quick reply to their RFQ. As full quoting automation becomes the new standard, shops that ask customers to wait days for a quote are clearly behind the curve. 

• Referencing difficulties. Quotes should include important data for customers and manufacturers alike to reference during a project. When critical information like part numbers and descriptions are missing, discrepancies are more likely to occur. 

• Inconsistent pricing. When shops lack an organized archive of quoting data, the quotes they produce are inevitably inconsistent. Prices may fluctuate arbitrarily, which makes the situation unpredictable and nontransparent for the customer. 

• Lack of context. Many highly automated platforms can turn around a quote in an instant. The problem is that they can’t properly address minor exceptions or specific details because the context is usually missing. 

Fortunately, the quoting process has evolved alongside the manufacturing industry. Our shop is proud to be raising the bar for quoting standards.

What to Expect from Arbiser Machine’s Quoting Process 

Through our partnership with Paperless Parts, we offer customers a more efficient, streamlined, and transparent quoting experience that’s a major upgrade on what they’ve come to expect from their contract manufacturer. 

The Paperless Parts digital quoting software enables highly customizable digital quotes and payments. The live quote portal gives customers the option to preview parts in 3D, expedite orders, view buying options for different quantities, and more. 

Here’s what customers can expect from our quoting process: 

• Pricing consistency. Our quoting software is programmed to ensure that we deliver fair, consistent quotes to all of our customers. The software analyzes solid models, volume metrics, necessary run and setup times, and material costs to create accurate and consistent price estimates that we honor for a full 30 days. Even outside the 30-day window, customers won’t see much fluctuation unless the cost of materials has changed dramatically. 

• Exceptional speed. The same automation that allows us to offer fair and consistent estimates also helps us respond to customers’ RFQs with lightning speed. For most projects, customers can expect to receive a quote or get a response from one of our team members within 2-4 hours of submitting an RFQ. Whether you need a quote for wire EDM services, multi-axis machining, or any other service, you can count on us to get you a price estimate as soon as possible.

• Easy interpretation. Our quotes are incredibly easy for customers to interpret and understand. When customers provide a 3D CAD file, they can interact directly with their model alongside their quote. This capability helps customers visualize the part and understand exactly what they’re paying for. They can also quickly identify the part visually instead of having to hunt down part numbers if they need to refer back to the quote in the future. 

• Just enough human interaction. We ensure that one of our engineers reviews each quote to gain a full understanding of the part function and end-use application. Our engineers confirm acknowledgment of specific details and callouts provided in the quote request so customers know their concerns are being addressed. They may even reach out to customers with clarifying questions to help ensure a more accurate quote.

Arbiser Machine’s quoting process is a reflection of our commitment to balancing automation with true human expertise. 

So, what’s next? 

When you submit an RFQ through our live portal—preferably with a 3D CAD file and a 2D PDF drawing included—we’ll acknowledge your inquiry right away so you can be sure the request is in process. In 2-4 hours, you’ll receive either a completed quote or direct contact from one of our team members to address additional questions. 

Most importantly, we’ll always be honest with you if we don’t think we’re the right fit for your project—although with our wide range of services, we don’t anticipate that being the case! 

Ready to get a fast, accurate, and fair quote for your next project? Request a quote from Arbiser Machine today!