What does RFQ mean in fabrication?

In a job shop, an RFQ is rarely a formal document. Most arrive as an email with a DXF, a STEP file or a PDF attached and a line or two of text. Some come through a customer portal or a web form, and larger customers send formal RFQs with their own terms and a closing date.

An RFQ asks for a price on a defined job. That separates it from:

• an RFI (request for information), which gathers information before a job is defined
• an RFP (request for proposal), which asks suppliers to propose how they'd solve a problem, not just price it

The shop's answer to an RFQ is a quote: a firm price for the work described, usually valid for a set period.

What should an RFQ include?

A complete RFQ gives the shop everything it needs to price the job without chasing the customer:

• drawings: a DXF or DWG for cut parts, a 3D model such as STEP for bent parts, and a PDF of the full drawing for reference
• material and grade, such as 304 stainless or 5052 aluminium
• thickness
• quantity, plus any expected repeat volumes
• finish and secondary processes, such as folding, tapping or a powder coat colour
• tolerances or critical dimensions, if they're tighter than standard
• the required date and delivery address
• whether the customer is supplying the material

Why does an RFQ matter?

RFQs are the start of every sale, and how a shop handles them shapes how much work it wins. Buyers often send the same RFQ to several shops. On small, routine jobs, many go with the first clear, credible quote they receive instead of waiting days for the cheapest. On large or complex jobs, price and confidence in the shop count for more.

Quoting is also unpaid work. Most job shops win only part of what they quote, so every RFQ that takes an hour to price costs time the shop could spend on paid jobs. The aim is quotes that are fast and accurate, without one person becoming the bottleneck.

Handling incomplete RFQs

When an RFQ is missing information, there are three sensible options:

• Ask, if the gap changes the price a lot. Thickness, material and quantity usually do.
• Quote with stated assumptions, such as "priced in 3 mm mild steel, mill finish" or "all parts come deburred", so the customer can correct them.
• Quote options side by side, such as two thicknesses or several quantity breaks.

Whichever you choose, put the assumptions and a validity period on the quote. Material prices move, so a quote that's valid for a set period, such as 30 days, protects the shop if the customer comes back in three months.

RFQs and quoting

The fastest way through a pile of RFQs is to cut the time each one takes: clean the drawings quickly, price from the geometry and your own rates, and send a professional quote the same day. Tempus Tools brings incoming RFQs into one quoting workflow, cleans up customer drawings, and prices from shared rules so every estimator gives the same answer. For routine work, its Web Store lets customers upload their own files and get an instant price, any time of day.

Further reading: Why quote speed can matter more than price in fabrication