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Automated Quote Generation

Blog Post 3.01.01 - Generate Accurate and Timely Sales Quotes

Automate the generation of accurate and timely sales quotes based on CAD part parameters. Read More ...

Global Edge Video Blog-3.01

Generate Accurate and Timely Sales Quotes

With many manufacturing companies that offer engineered-to-order (ETO) and custom products, including contract manufacturers, producing accurate and timely sales quotes can be a challenge. Many of these quoting challenges are the result of tribal quoting knowledge, and the person with the specific tribal knowledge may not always being available. Another quoting challenge is the dependency on quoting spreadsheets that have evolved over time to become very involved, complex and hard to maintain. Global Edge Engineering Assistant is an innovative quoting, engineering and manufacturing workflow tool that helps enhance the capabilities of existing quoting systems. While Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides full functioned quoting system capabilities, it may not always be practical to replace an existing quoting system, especially those that include an immense quoting tribal knowledge. The approach of Global Edge Engineering Assistant is to supplement an existing quoting system with capabilities that can automatically analyze CAD parts and store complete part parameters. Then utilizing these CAD Part Parameters to generate optimal routings and cost rollups. Features and benefits that can improve the quoting process includes:
  • Automated Generation of Sales Quotes from Customer CAD Drawings
  • Automated Configuration of Sales Quotes Based on Customer Requirements
  • Automated Routing Generation Based on CAD Part Parameters
  • Accurate Time & Material Cost Rollups Based on Latest Costs from ERP
  • Automated Quantity Pricing Based on Manufacturing Costs

Automating Accurate and Timely Sales Quotes with CAD-Based Solutions

Transforming Sales Quoting for Engineered-to-Order and Custom Product Manufacturers

Introduction
In the rapidly evolving landscape of manufacturing, especially among companies that offer engineered-to-order (ETO) and custom products, the sales quoting process stands as both a critical and complex challenge. As customers demand ever-greater levels of customization, and as the diversity of parts and processes increases, the need for accurate and timely sales quotes has become paramount. Yet, for many manufacturers, achieving precision and speed in quoting remains elusive, hampered by outdated practices, reliance on “tribal knowledge”, and cumbersome spreadsheet systems.
This document explores how automation—driven by intelligent analysis of CAD part parameters—can revolutionize the quoting process. It also introduces Global Edge Engineering Assistant as an innovative workflow tool that supplements existing quoting systems, overcoming traditional bottlenecks and empowering manufacturers to generate quotes that are both fast and reliable.

The Challenges of Sales Quoting in Modern Manufacturing

The Complexity of Engineered-to-Order and Custom Products
Manufacturers who specialize in ETO and custom products face a unique set of quoting hurdles. Unlike companies that produce standard catalog items, every quote may involve new or modified components, unique materials, and specialized processes. This variability makes the quoting process much more than a simple price lookup—it becomes an intricate engineering exercise at the sales front.
  • Varied Part Designs: Each customer request can involve different dimensions, tolerances, and geometries, requiring deep technical expertise to estimate cost and feasibility.
  • Changing Materials and Processes: New materials or complex process steps can alter routing, labor, and overhead requirements, affecting the overall quote.
  • Multi-Step Workflows: From design to prototyping, machining, finishing, and assembly, custom products often travel through multi-stage manufacturing routes that must be reflected in an accurate quote.
Reliance on Tribal Knowledge
In many organizations, quoting expertise resides in the minds of a few experienced individuals. Their “tribal knowledge”—understanding built up over years of involvement—often becomes the unwritten standard for estimating costs, selecting routings, and even negotiating pricing. While invaluable, this knowledge presents two major risks:
  • Bottleneck Effect: When the person with critical quoting expertise is unavailable, quotes are delayed, risking lost sales and damaged customer relationships.
  • Knowledge Loss: If these experts retire or leave, the organization may face a steep learning curve, jeopardizing both accuracy and consistency in quoting.
The Spreadsheet Dilemma
Spreadsheets have long been the backbone of quoting systems. Over years, these documents evolve, incorporating new formulas, reference tables, and process flows. Eventually, they become labyrinthine—difficult to maintain, slow to update, and prone to error.
  • Complexity: What began as a straightforward cost calculation tool now involves intricate macros, hidden sheets, and interlocked cells that only a few people understand.
  • Error-Prone: Manual data entry and formula updates increase the risk of mistakes, which can lead to inaccurate quotes and costly reworks.
  • Limited Integration: Most spreadsheets are not connected to live data sources, such as ERP systems, resulting in outdated pricing and material costs.
Global Edge Engineering Assistant: A New Approach
Recognizing these quoting challenges, Global Edge Engineering Assistant offers a fresh perspective and a suite of tools designed to enhance—rather than replace—the capabilities of existing quoting systems. Its core philosophy is to leverage automation, data integration, and advanced analysis to supplement the legacy quoting processes rooted in tribal knowledge.
Supplementing, Not Replacing, Existing Systems
Deploying a brand-new quoting system is often impractical—especially when the current system embodies years of accumulated expertise and covers a broad array of product scenarios. Global Edge Engineering Assistant’s approach is therefore to act as an overlay or supplement, bringing automation and intelligence to the quoting workflow without discarding the valuable tribal knowledge embedded in the current process.
  • Non-Disruptive Integration: The tool works alongside existing spreadsheets and ERP systems, importing CAD part data and exporting optimized quotes and routings.
  • Knowledge Preservation: By automating routine quoting tasks, it frees up expert time while preserving and codifying their insights for future use.
Automating the Quoting Process Using CAD Part Parameters
Central to Global Edge Engineering Assistant’s value proposition is its ability to automatically analyze customer-supplied CAD drawings, extract part parameters, and use this data to drive quoting decisions. This automation transforms the quoting process from manual estimation to data-driven precision.
Automated Generation of Sales Quotes
By ingesting CAD drawings directly, Global Edge Engineering Assistant can:
  • Identify part dimensions, geometries, and features necessary for accurate costing.
  • Match part specifications to manufacturing capabilities, enabling rapid feasibility assessment.
  • Generate preliminary quotes instantly, reducing turnaround time from days to minutes.
Automated Configuration Based on Customer Requirements
Custom products often require configuration—choices about materials, finishes, tolerances, and packaging. Global Edge Engineering Assistant automates this by linking CAD parameters to configurable options, ensuring that quotes reflect all customer preferences.
  • Dynamic option selection based on part features and customer needs.
  • Instant update of costs and lead times as configurations change.
Automated Routing Generation
Manufacturing complex parts involves multiple process steps. Global Edge Engineering Assistant analyzes part geometry and material data to generate optimal manufacturing routings:
  • Assigns machines and work centers based on required operations.
  • Sequences production steps for maximum efficiency.
  • Rolls up process times and costs to create a comprehensive manufacturing plan.
Accurate Time & Material Cost Rollups
Precision in quoting depends on access to up-to-date cost data. Global Edge Engineering Assistant connects to ERP systems to source the latest prices for materials, labor, and overhead.
  • Real-time updates ensure quotes always reflect current costs.
  • Reduces the risk of underpricing or overpricing due to outdated information.
Automated Quantity Pricing
Manufacturing costs often decrease with higher quantities due to economies of scale. Global Edge Engineering Assistant calculates quantity-dependent pricing automatically, allowing sales teams to present tiered quotes that encourage larger orders.
  • Optimizes profit margins by balancing cost reductions with pricing strategy.
  • Provides customers with transparent, incentive-driven pricing options.
Features and Benefits of Global Edge Engineering Assistant
The capabilities described above translate into tangible benefits for manufacturers, sales teams, and customers alike.
  • Increased Quoting Speed: Automated extraction and analysis of CAD data slashes time-to-quote, enabling faster responses and improved win rates.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: Data-driven calculations reduce errors and uncertainty, increasing confidence in quotes delivered to customers.
  • Scalability: Automation makes it easier to handle a larger volume of quotes without sacrificing precision.
  • Knowledge Retention: Codifying tribal knowledge into automated workflows ensures continuity, even as personnel change over time.
  • Improved Customer Experience: Faster, more accurate quotes build trust and strengthen relationships, leading to repeat business.
  • Integrated Workflow: Seamless connection with existing ERP, CAD, and spreadsheet systems maintains the integrity of legacy processes while adding new capabilities.
Conclusion
For manufacturers who build their reputation on custom engineering and rapid response, the sales quoting process is a linchpin of commercial success. The challenges posed by tribal knowledge, spreadsheet complexity, and ever-changing customer requirements can no longer be addressed through manual effort alone. By automating the generation of quotes based on CAD part parameters—supplemented by intelligent routing, cost rollups, and quantity-based pricing—Global Edge Engineering Assistant empowers companies to deliver not just quotes, but competitive advantage.
As the pace of manufacturing innovation accelerates, the adoption of tools like Global Edge Engineering Assistant marks a critical step forward—not only in quoting, but in the entire engineering and production workflow. Through automation, integration, and data-driven insight, manufacturers can meet the demands of their customers with accuracy, speed, and confidence.

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