Cost-Estimating Software Makes Huge Dent in Quote Response Time

Since Alpa Precision, LLP, a Houston, TX-based machine shop serving the oil and gas industry, began using its new cost-estimating software (in April 2013), it’s enjoyed a 20-percent reduction in quoting time.

“This provides more time to estimate more quotes and for double-checking quotes,” says company owner and president Alberto Lozano, “as well as offering more programming time for manufacturing parts.”

Lozano’s decision to invest in the new software (Costimator, from MTI Systems, West Springfield, MA) arose after watching one demonstration. Half through the presentation, Lozano saw just what he was hoping for—a better to estimate quotes with multiple quantities without duplicating steps in the process. “Repeating these steps, for each estimate, was not only time-consuming and frustrating,” says Lozano. “I felt it was leaving too much room for error, which is something I simply cannot afford.

“We used to estimate quotes manually,” continues Lozano. “Now, Costimator automates much of what needs to be prepared and calculated. This not only helps us identify lower-cost s of manufacturing parts or performing manufacturing processes more quickly, it helps us deliver more of the information that our customers want—right in the beginning.”

More and more, customers request quotes that include multiple quantities and in many cases, the requests are long after the quote has already been submitted. No matter when the changes are made, customers still expect consistently accurate results in a timely fashion.

Costimator not only solved Lozano’s ‘multiple quantities’ request issue, now other items in the estimates can be modified quickly. This includes changing or adding new work centers, swapping out materials, and comparing multiple estimates to find the best or least-cost manufacturing process.

See also: MTI Systems, Inc.

Technologies: Software

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