I’m the guy who processes the incoming Request for Quotes (RFQs) at my work place and I’ve been noticing something more and more lately… Nobody wants to make drawings anymore!  They will typically send a IGES or STEP file or maybe a DXF file of the part geometry.  Our estimators here only quote from fully dimensioned and documented drawings.  When I politely tell the RFQ sender this they usually come back with something like, “I just need a ‘ballpark’ figure”, or “this is just for budgetary purposes”.   I will usually import the file into SolidWorks just to see what it would take for our limited engineering department (me and one other guy) to produce a drawing but even then we don’t know any of things that would make a part’s price vary such as material, tolerances, specifications, finish, etc.

All of the RFQs are usually initiated by contacts from our outside salesmen but for some reason I can’t seem to get it through their heads what the requirements for a RFQ are.  I realize that they are not CAD savvy but you would think after the 100th time I explained it to them they would get the hint.  One of them keeps saying that he will try to get a ‘model drawing’.  Not sure what he means by this term but I do know that what we usually end up with is of little use.  I feel the problem starts with the salesman, he should be fully aware and understand the problem.  No I take that back, I guess my failure to make them understand is where the problem starts.  Yeah, I’ll take the blame!

In these tough economic times I can understand the reluctance for an engineer to produce a drawing and I can venture that all the underlings that used to do the drawings are in the unemployment line now.  There is a cost associated with making a drawing whether the requester has it made or if we have to make it.  Should we be expected to absorb this cost for just a quote?

What does the reader think?  Is there an answer to this problem?  Should my company be more willing to do what the requester should have done?  How can I effectively explain this to our salesmen?  Please leave some comments as I’m looking for advice.

 


Comments

Wes Cobb

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:48:45

Jeff, I can relate to your situation concerning lack of engineering drawings.
I can go you one better. Request to quote a 2 cavity mold design with no model OR drawings..."just give me a ballpark cost". I don't know what people are thinking!!

 

Jeff

Tue, 05 May 2009 04:37:01

You and I both know what they're thinking..."If I trip them up on pricing they will have to hold to it."

Of course their bosses are wanting them to get more done faster and I think that there is a limit to how fast the engineering/CAD work can be done so they cut corners, in other words, "let someone else do the drawings".

 



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