by Chris Anjel | Jul 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
Every estimator knows the moment: you’re halfway through a detailed quote when the customer emails back — actually, make it 250 units instead of 50. Or they need a price break at three different volumes by tomorrow morning. The RFQ hasn’t even been...
by Chris Anjel | Jul 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
Your phone rings. A potential customer needs a quote by end of day for a part they haven’t designed yet. They describe the function, rough dimensions, material preference, and a few critical tolerances. No CAD file. No 2D drawing. Just a conversation and a...
by Chris Anjel | Jul 16, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops can quote a CNC-machined aluminum bracket in their sleep. But when the RFQ arrives for an assembly — machined housing, sheet metal brackets, 3D printed jigs, pressed inserts, and a coating spec — the spreadsheet grows legs and walks away. The risk...
by Chris Anjel | Jul 13, 2026 | Materials & Pricing, Quoting & Estimating
Every shop has a backlog of completed jobs. Each one carries the real numbers: actual cycle time, setup duration, scrap count, tool wear, and the hours your team spent on the floor. Yet when a new RFQ lands, many estimators still reach for a spreadsheet, a tribal rule...
by Chris Anjel | Jul 13, 2026 | Materials & Pricing, Quoting & Estimating
Every shop has sent a quote with the wrong material, a missed secondary operation, or a setup time that doesn’t match reality. Those errors cost money — sometimes the job, sometimes the margin, sometimes both.For digital manufacturers running high-mix,...