Job Shops Bid for Work online - A Message to Our Readers

Automotive Finishing, Winter, 2001

Finding The Right Work

For the job shop, the first step of the Bid for Work process is to create a "Job-Bot," which is essentially a filter that identifies the kinds of work that shop is looking for. Through menu-driven settings, the finisher programs the Job-Bot to search for RFQs coming from a specific industry, for specific finishing disciplines (e.g. plating, painting, powder coating, mechanical finishing, etc.), for a specific lot size range, for a specific delivery window, and so on. The Job-Bot then collects only the RFQs in the marketplace that meet those criteria. Subscribing shops can create as many different Job-Bots as they please.

Once a suitable RFQ has been identified, the Quote Wizard guides the estimator through the quoting process. Initially, the quote is dynamically created based on the buyer-specified RFQ information. Then the estimator fills in the rest of the information to complete the quote. Fields are provided for processing costs, tooling costs, material costs and shipping, and total job costs are automatically calculated. Also, a dialog box within the Wizard allows shops to ask for additional information or post comments. Once submitted, the quote is automatically inserted in the buyer's RFO folder, and an e-mail notification is sent. If a buyer accepts the bid, the shop is notified via e-mail and the collaborative process continues. Or, the buyer may ask that the shop rebid based on new information. If the bid is rejected and/or the job is awarded to someone else, the shop will be notified via e-mail.

The entire bidding process is organized inside the Job-Bot so that a job shop can manage related quotes associated with the Job-Bot's line of business and obtain potential sales and profitability indications. Shops manage their quotes in the "Job-Bot Management List," which provides a summary of the activity in each Job-Bot. The list identifies which Job-Bots have grabbed new RFQs and new messages, as well as which quotes have been accepted, rejected or are still outstanding. In addition to the organization tools, the Job-Bot provides a quote summary so that a supplier can perform an analysis of won vs. lost jobs. Moreover, the system provides feedback on the range of all quotes posted against an RFO, which provides a useful benchmark on industry-wide pricing for that type of work.

Another Tool For The Shop

Is PRODUCTS FINISHING'S Bid for Work system a substitute for the personal contact that lies at the heart of many customer relationships? Absolutely not. People talking to people is still--and probably always will be--an essential component of a solid bond between buyers and finishers. What Bid for Work does is help introduce service providers to buyers who would not be able to meet through other means. And once those connections are made, Bid for Work is a tool to enhance the ongoing conversation necessary to making the customer relationship successful for both parties.

To find out more about the Bid for Work system, hit the link on the home page of PRODUCTS FINISHING ONLINE (www.pfonline.com) or go directly to the Bid for Work area at www.pfonline.com/bidforwork. You'll find answers to a number of frequently asked questions, and a guided tour of the Bid for Work system for both suppliers and buyers. Or, if you'd rather talk to a person, call us toll free at 866-667-1212.