Automated Manufacturing Quoting
A self-serve quoting system for a sheet-metal fabricator that turns uploaded design files into accurate, purchasable quotes in minutes instead of weeks.
Manual quoting process required days of engineering time with no standardized pricing logic. Quotes were calculated in disconnected spreadsheets, leading to inconsistent margins and pricing errors that sometimes went undetected until production.
No validation existed between quote acceptance and production handoff. Orders entered manufacturing with incomplete specifications or incorrect pricing.
- CAD file upload triggering automated geometry analysis via Paperless Parts API
- Pricing calculator with material, quantity, finishing, and complexity variables encoded as backend logic
- Margin enforcement rules preventing quotes below defined thresholds
- Shipping cost calculation through carrier API integration with live rate lookup
- Payment processing orchestration via Stripe with automatic invoice generation
- State-driven workflow preventing production handoff without complete specifications
- Automated order synchronization to manufacturing ERP on payment completion
- Role-based override permissions for engineering-approved exceptions with full logging
- Complete state transition history for every quote from upload to production
State transitions were modeled explicitly from file upload through production handoff. Each transition validates required data and enforces business rules at the backend layer before allowing progression.
Pricing logic is encoded in the database schema and calculation engine rather than spreadsheets. Margin thresholds are enforced programmatically, making under-pricing a system impossibility rather than a training issue.
The production handoff is automated through API orchestration. Quote data flows directly into manufacturing systems after payment, eliminating manual data entry and the specification drift that came with it.