free machine shop job costing estimating software

What we can see is that the ideal solution must be: If you were going to sit down to improve an existing or write a new cost estimating solution, you’d want to be aware of what users value most and make sure you captured as much value for them as possible. What do Users Value in Today’s Estimating Solutions?

Plus, “Power Features” and much of the rest reflects solutions that don’t fully embrace the complexity of what modern machine shops do or that have immature or poorly written software. Here’s what the survey said:Įssentially, today’s solutions are too inaccurate and time consuming. Of course it’s natural to wonder why so many are unhappy with their Cost Estimation Solutions. What Are the Pain Points for Today’s Estimating Solutions? Evidently this market is ripe for some innovation.

The two that didn’t have a massively negative response, Jobboss and Factory Master, had so few respondents its hard to believe the results hold for their entire installed base.įor comparison, we see figures in the 15-20% range for folks looking to switch their CAD or CAM software. This chart really floored me, because it basically says nobody is happy with any of the available solutions. Some use dedicated quoting software like QuoteCam, MES, or homegrown Custom Software.There were a number of folks using ERP software of various kinds including Shoptech E2, Redthorn, Factory Master, and Jobboss.It’s accurate, but the drawback is that it requires a huge amount of work on a job you might not even win. CAM Machining Time: With this method, you do all the CAM work, generate g-code, and use a simulator to tell how long the g-code will take.It involves having an experienced machinist and job quoter generate a quote by looking at the part and making a few back of the envelope adjustments based on experience with prior similar parts. It’s followed closely by an “Eyeball Guestimate.” If the latter sounds imprecise, it’s because it is. The number one player by a wide margin is spreadsheets. We learned a lot, and I want to thank everyone for participating.

This year, we surveyed 100 respondents to learn as much as possible about how they prepare quotes and what they like and dislike about the process. The Top Shops are doing a significantly better job on their quoting process. That means 70% of the quotes from the Top Shops win the business while the average shop is quoting two jobs for every one it takes to the bank. Recently, I came across an article that suggested that the best shops have a 70% average quote to book ratio, while the average shop has a 51% ratio. Your ability to quote jobs accurately has a big impact on your profitability and on your ability to compete for work. Job Quoting and Cost Estimation are important functions in manufacturing that most shops have to deal with.

Free machine shop job costing estimating software