ManufactureLink's Online Sourcing System Process in Detail

ManufactureLink’s online sourcing system closely replicates the standard sourcing process peple in industry use everyday, but in an efficient, online environment. We also give you the tools to radically compress the timelines for sourcing custom manufacturing, reduce the risks traditionally involved, and make confident, informed decisions when dealing with new suppliers or customers. The following is more detailed, chronological description of the ManufactureLink sourcing process using our online Request For Quote (RFQ) system:

• A supplier sets up their online account and defines their business by making selections from our categories such as industries serviced, material experience, manufacturing processes available, accreditations held and sets up their online profile.
• A buyer creates their free online sourcing account.
• The buyer creates a Request For Quote (RFQ) online by inputting data about quantities, materials, surface finishes, coatings, heat treatment, part descriptions, delivery instructions and due date for submissions.
• The buyer uploads drawings in web formats such as edrawings, pdf, dwf or native CAD formats. Detailed specification or tender documents can also be uploaded.
• The buyer can select to lock access to the drawings and documents until an online NDA is digitally signed by the supplier, or even force conventional, hard copy NDAs.
• The RFQ can be saved to the standard parts list for submission anytime, and/or the buyer can select known and trusted suppliers from their ‘My Suppliers’ list for quick submission.
• Alternatively the buyer can make selections from the system categories to define manufacturing processes they require, accreditations, industry experience, material expereince and geographic location.
• The buyer submits their RFQ to the system which intelligently matches suppliers to the buyers requirements.
• Suppliers can control the opportunities to quote they receive to suit their entire facility capabilities or a single machine to fill excess capacity.
• Suppliers do this by creating ‘Sales Reps’ or custom filters to seek out specific types of RFQs, such as only those for laser cutting, or only CNC machining.
• Suppliers can log in to the system and quickly review RFQs matching their entire capabilities, their customised ‘Sales Reps’ or browse every RFQ in the system.
• Suppliers also receive an automatically-generated email daily, which summarises new RFQs in the system matching their capabilities and Sales Reps.
• Suppliers select RFQs they wish to quote on, view details and download drawings.
• If drawings are NDA locked, they will need to digitally sign an NDA before being allowed to download and view the drawings and files.
• Suppliers create their quotes using their regular methods, our online quoting software, or a saved quote template. Quote details are input against the RFQ details online and submitted to the system before the buyer’s nominated due date.
• Details of submitted quotes are saved for viewing at anytime, but cannot be edited (this prevents the system acting as an auction).
• When the due date for submissions has passed, the buyer reviews all quotes submitted online for the particular RFQ.
• Quotes are presented in a consistent, easy-to-compare format.
• Graphical ‘Ebay style' ratings are displayed to indicate a supplier’s reputation.
• The buyer can view each supplier's showroom to review feedback from other buyers, their full capabilities, or phone them to make informed choices as to which supplier to use.
• The buyer can communicate with the suppliers to ask questions or collaborate on manufacturing solutions, but suppliers cannot alter their quotes. The system does not work as a reverse auction to drive prices down.
• The buyer chooses the winning quote and awards it with a click of a button.
• A feedback form is generated and the buyer can provide feedback to the unsuccessful suppliers as to why the winning quote was chosen if they choose to.
• The system automatically generates statistical feedback on the quotes submitted and combines this with the buyer feedback in a report to the unsuccessful suppliers.
• The buyer can automatically generate a purchase order request and the RFQ now becomes a job-in-progress.
• The supplier can generate an automated Job Card for workshop scheduling and print out the drawings and documents as necessary.
• The supplier keeps the job status updated using Job Trakka™ to keep the buyer informed of the progress of their job.
• At the completion of the job, buyers and suppliers rate each other and provide feedback for other users to view when carrying out online reputation assessment.

A fully detailed user manual is available to all users and downloadable from their dashboard once registered.