Best Practices for Submitting a Request for Quote from Our Fabrication Shop
When it comes to working with a fabrication shop like CAMM Metals, the way you submit a request for quote (RFQ) can significantly impact both speed and accuracy. Over the years, we’ve learned what makes quoting easier for both our team and our customers, and it starts with providing the right information upfront.
Allow us to explain:
The Importance of Providing a STEP File
One of the most critical components of any RFQ is a STEP file. While PDFs, 2D drawings, and other attachments are still extremely useful, a STEP file gives our estimators and engineers everything they need to understand your part. With it, we can:
Identify potential manufacturing difficulties
Leverage warnings in our quoting software, Paperless Parts, including ultra-tight tolerances, short flanges, and so on
Assess lead times and pricing more accurately
A complete STEP file allows our team to produce faster, more precise quotes and gives engineers the ability to start planning production immediately. Without it, we often encounter delays, additional questions, and even last-minute changes that can affect costs and timelines.
Common Issues with RFQ Submissions
It’s easy for even the most experienced customers to overlook key details when submitting an RFQ. In fact, the day we sat down to write this piece, we had two incidents occur that we run into all the time:
Material specifications: One customer initially requested a quote from our team without specifying that they required certified domestic material. After engineering began assessing their part and we sent them a quote, we had to revisit sourcing to ensure lead time and pricing would not have to be changed.
Finishing requirements: Paint color, powder coat, or plating details can drastically affect cost and setup. Today, a customer included in their RFQ that they needed the part painted, but were not specific about their desired color. Our team had to reach back out to ask for clarification regarding color selection, which can affect both pricing and timing.
These recent situations highlight why it’s essential to provide comprehensive details from the start. It prevents surprises, keeps projects on schedule, reduces the need for back-and-forth communication, and ensures accurate pricing in your quote.
Why understanding the full assembly matters
When we’re quoting custom fabricated components, it helps our team to understand the larger assembly involved, even if CAMM Metals isn’t producing every part. Knowing how a piece will attach to other components or interact in a finished product allows us to suggest manufacturing strategies, anticipate potential issues, and ensure optimal fit before production begins.
Leverage Your Partnership with CAMM Metals
At CAMM Metals, we’re a partner in your manufacturing process. With a broad range of capabilities, including CNC machining services, laser and waterjet cutting services, welding services, and precision sheet metal fabrication, we strive to find solutions that maximize efficiency while minimizing lead times. If a project can be completed in-house rather than outsourced, for instance, we can often save time and provide better quality to our customers.
Providing complete RFQ information is the first step in a successful partnership with your fabrication shop. By sharing detailed STEP files that include material requirements, finishing specifications, assembly context, and other critical insights, you enable our team to provide faster, more accurate quotes.
Have a project in mind? Request a quote to get started!