How to write a requirement that workshops can quote accurately

Why a clear requirement matters

A workshop can only quote what it understands. When a requirement is missing details, workshops either guess, add a safety margin to the price, or skip it. A clear requirement gets you quotations that can be compared, and starts good conversations.

What to include

You do not need to be an engineer. You need to describe the job so that a workshop can picture it.

• A drawing or sketch with the important dimensions. A photo of a sample part helps too.
• The material, or the grade if you know it. If you are not sure, say what the part does and where it is used.
• The quantity: how many now, and roughly how many later. Price per part often depends on this.
• The tolerances and finish that really matter. Say so if a fit is critical, and do not ask for tight tolerances on every feature.
• When you need it, and where it should be delivered.
• Anything else the workshop must know: standards, testing, packing, certificates.

Say what you do not know

It is fine to say that you are unsure about the material or the process. Workshops can often suggest an option, and a straightforward question is better than a wrong assumption.

Compare quotations on the same basis

When you get quotations, compare more than the price. Look at the delivery time, what is included, such as finishing and testing, and how clearly the workshop answered your questions. A very low price that leaves out something you need is not cheaper.

Kinds of work

• Die making
• Mold making
• CNC machining
• Casting
• Fabrication