Automate RFQ Using AI for Manufacturing

Why I Wrote This

I run a small custom-steel shop. For years my team and I wrestled with piles of RFQs. We answered late, missed details, and lost jobs to faster competitors. I built Mavlon so we could stop drowning in paperwork and start winning more work. This note shares what I learned in plain language.

1. What an RFQ Really Costs You

An RFQ looks simple: a drawing, a part list, a short deadline. Behind that are hours of email, copy-paste, and price checks.

• One missed decimal means scrap.

• One late reply means the buyer moves on.

• One wrong material pick means a chargeback.
  

Add it up and manual RFQs eat money you never see on a balance sheet.

2. The Big Idea in One Line

Automate RFQ using AI for manufacturing so a computer handles the clicks and you handle the real decisions.

3. How to automate RFQ using AI for manufacturing

1. Catch the RFQ A tiny program watches your inbox. The minute a new RFQ arrives it grabs the files.

2. Read the Files AI scans the PDF or STEP file like a keen intern. It spots material type, size, and quantity.

3. Check Your History The system compares the part to every quote you have stored. It finds jobs that look close and learns from those prices.

4. Draft a Price It adds current steel cost, machine time, and a margin you set. You get a draft number in minutes.

5. Send or Edit You skim the draft. Happy? Hit send. Want tweaks? Adjust and go.

No deep code and no PhD needed. Just plug it in and let it run.

4. Why Now Is the Right Moment

• Cloud tools are cheap.

• Buyers expect same-day answers.

• Shops that quote fastest win more.
  

If you can email a drawing, you can run AI quoting. Waiting two more years will widen the gap between you and the shop down the road.

5. Numbers That Made Me Move

Before Mavlon:

• 60 RFQs a week

• 90 minutes each to quote

• 60 × 1.5 hours × 45 USD wage = 4 050 USD a week
  

After we switched:

• Same 60 RFQs

• 20 minutes each

• 60 × 0.33 hours × 45 USD = 900 USD a week
  

Savings: about 3 000 USD every seven days. That paid for the software in the first month.

6. Common Fears and Honest Answers

Question	Short answer
“Will AI take my job?”	No. It takes the boring clicks. You spend time on big orders and new buyers.
“Will it mess up my price?”	You set guardrails. The bot never sends numbers without your OK, unless you choose that.
“Do I need clean CAD every time?”	Clean files help but the parser can handle rough PDFs and most common CAD files.
“Is my data safe?”	Look for tools with encryption and clear delete rules. Always read the contract.

7. First Steps You Can Do This Week

1. Track how long one RFQ really takes.

2. List the steps that feel like busywork.

3. Try a free demo of any AI RFQ tool, Mavlon or another.

4. Pick one low-risk buyer and test.

5. Count the minutes saved.
   

Small wins prove the point faster than a giant rollout plan.

8. My Story in Short

I started machining parts in a garage. We grew to a 30-person shop but stayed stuck in email jail. One Friday my estimator worked till midnight on quotes we never won. I knew it had to change. I teamed up with a friend who codes, and we built the first version of our RFQ bot. It was ugly, but it cut quote time by 70 percent. We kept refining until other shops asked to use it. That tool is now Mavlon.

9. The Payoff Beyond Money

• Happier staff  - No one joins manufacturing to copy numbers from PDFs.

• Better buyer trust  - Fast, clear quotes show you value their time.

• Room to grow  - Free hours mean you can chase new markets instead of catching up on email.

10. A Simple Call to Action

If any part of this feels like the headache you fight daily, try to automate RFQ using AI for manufacturing. Whether you pick Mavlon or another path, start now. Time saved today becomes profit tomorrow.

My inbox is open. Send me your toughest RFQ and a stopwatch result. Let’s make quoting the easiest part of your day.

Thanks for reading.