How to Prepare an RFQ for Composite Parts
Article
The quality of an RFQ determines how fast — and how accurately — a manufacturer can respond. In composite manufacturing, where geometry, surface finish and tooling all affect price, the right input data can be the difference between a same-week quote and weeks of back-and-forth.
What Information Should You Include?
The most useful elements are: a clear part description, the quantity you’re planning for (prototype, pilot batch or series), drawings or CAD files if you have them, expectations around surface finish, and your delivery timeline.
What If You Don’t Have a 3D Model?
A 3D model helps, but it isn’t a precondition to start. We regularly quote based on technical drawings, photos with dimensions, or a physical sample part — this is exactly how we approached a recent project where we took over production of an existing part from another supplier and had to reconstruct the mold geometry from the part itself, without original CAD files.
Common RFQ Mistakes
The issues that slow things down most often are: missing dimensions, an unclear description of how the part will be used, no indication of expected volume, and unrealistic deadlines that don’t account for tooling lead time.
What Happens After You Send an RFQ?
A typical workflow looks like this: initial response within 24 hours, a round of clarification questions if needed, feasibility confirmation, then a quote with a realistic timeline, followed by prototype or production depending on the project stage.
Conclusion
A structured RFQ saves time for everyone involved. Even with incomplete documentation, a clear description and a sample or drawing is usually enough to get the process moving.
