Industrial RFQ systems · SOULTWARE LLC
RFQ intake for custom machine builders
A custom machine request often begins before the buyer can specify every detail. The intake process should collect a usable starting point, distinguish confirmed facts from open questions, and give engineering a clear path to qualify the opportunity.
Ask about the job the machine must do
Capture the part or product, process step, current method, desired change, and what the requester considers a successful result. Ask for known cycle, quality, or operating constraints without forcing false precision.
Identify the existing equipment and interfaces that may affect the design. Mark missing information for later follow-up instead of treating every request as quote-ready.
Keep evidence beside the answers
Collect drawings, samples, photos, process documents, and site information through an appropriate file path. Record which files relate to which requirement and who supplied them.
State what formats and file limits are accepted. If sensitive drawings or proprietary data are involved, define access and retention with the customer before collecting them.
Route technical review before estimating
Give engineering a queue to assign ownership, flag risk, and record unanswered questions. Commercial estimation should begin when the responsible reviewers agree that the request has enough context.
A structured RFQ system organizes the handoff; it does not replace machine design judgment, safety review, or customer clarification.