Why manufacturing RFQs are usually incomplete on arrival
A buyer submitting an RFQ often doesn't know upfront which details actually change the quote — material, tolerance, finish, quantity breaks, or lead-time flexibility. What arrives is frequently a general request ("can you make this part") missing the specifics an estimator needs to even start, which means a round of clarifying emails before real pricing work begins.
Distinguishing a real production RFQ from a sample or spec-sheet request
Not every inbound inquiry is ready to be quoted — some are early research requests for a spec sheet or a sample, not a production order. Qualification surfaces that distinction, so estimating time goes to inquiries actually ready to be priced.
Turning an RFQ into a structured brief, not an automatic quote
This is RFQ-intake qualification, not automated quoting — it collects the inputs a real quote depends on and structures them into a clean brief for your estimator. Pricing judgment, technical feasibility, and the actual quote stay entirely with your team, every time.
Questions
Does this generate an automatic price or quote?+
No — it qualifies the RFQ into a structured, complete brief. Pricing is prepared and confirmed by your team; the automation never quotes a part on its own.
Can it handle technical drawings or spec sheets attached to an inquiry?+
It can capture that an attachment exists and flag it for your team to review — technical evaluation of the drawing itself stays with your engineers.
Does this apply to one-off custom parts or only standard catalog items?+
Both — the qualifying questions adjust to whether it's a standard product or a custom specification during setup.
Can it tell a serious RFQ from a student project or a price-comparison request with no real order behind it?+
The qualifying questions (quantity, lead time, recurring vs. one-off) surface that distinction early — it's a strong signal, not a guaranteed filter.
What about existing distributors reordering, not new RFQs?+
That's a different page — see Distributor & Dealer Portal for Manufacturers. This page qualifies new inbound RFQs; the portal is self-service reordering for an existing distributor relationship.