Machine shops — Automation for machine shops
RFQs sit in the inbox until someone has time to price them, POs get keyed in against the right rev, and cert packages are put together by hand for each shipment. These are the parts software can take over, with the estimator and quality manager still deciding on pricing, tolerances and what ships. 39 automations fit, each with an example and workflow written for machine shops.
What machine shops automate
Showing 39 use cases for machine shops
- Calls & leadsPlanned for a clientAI receptionistAnswers the shop phone while everyone is on the floor, gives job status from the ERP and takes new RFQ details.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsPlanned for a clientMissed-call text-backTexts back callers the shop couldn't answer, asks for the part and quantity, and sends the drawing upload link.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsBuilt for a clientInstant lead responseAnswers new RFQs from the website and Thomasnet within minutes, confirms what's needed and sets an expected quote date.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsBuilt for a clientLead qualification & routingSorts new RFQs by material, tolerance, quantity and certs needed, and sends good fits to the estimator first.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsLead nurture sequencesKeeps in touch with engineers who asked for a quote but aren't ready to order, and stops when they reply.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsIn build for a clientWebsite chat assistantAnswers questions about materials, machines, certs and lead times from your capability page, and takes RFQs.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsPlanned for a clientQuote follow-upFollows up on open quotes before the price expires, and tells the estimator when a buyer replies or sends a PO.Machine shopsHow it works
- Calls & leadsBuilt for a clientQuote & proposal builderBuilds a draft quote from the drawing and model: material, setups, cycle time, outside processing and quantity breaks.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsBuilt for a clientDigital intake formsAn online RFQ form asks for drawing, model, material, quantities, finish and certs, so quotes start complete.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsClient onboardingSets up a new customer after the first PO: NDA, credit terms, supplier portal, quality clauses and ship-to details.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsDocument collectionRequests the current drawing rev, model, specs and source inspection forms a job needs, and tracks what's missing.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsBuilt for a clientDocument data extractionReads drawing title blocks, rev levels and notes into the job, so routings start from the right revision.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsBuilt for a clientOrder entry automationTurns customer POs into sales orders and jobs, matched to the quote, part rev and ship dates, for the office to confirm.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsBuilt for a clientDocument generationBuilds the first article inspection report and cert package from the CMM data, certs and C of C, for quality to sign.Machine shopsHow it works
- Intake & documentsDocument classificationSorts incoming material certs, finisher certs and packing slips, and files each to the right job and heat lot.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationCustomer status updatesBuyers get an email when their job is released, through first article, at outside processing and shipped.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationInbox triageSorts the shop inbox into RFQs, POs, drawing changes, cert requests and quality complaints, and routes each.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationAI reply draftingDrafts replies about ship dates, certs, revs and reorders from the ERP, for the office or quality to send.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationWin-back campaignsFinds customers who used to send repeat jobs and went quiet, and drafts a check-in for the owner to send.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationRenewal remindersWarns the owner before a blanket PO or long-term price agreement ends, with releases and material costs attached.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationMeeting notes & follow-upsA customer call about a new part or a rev change becomes a summary, action items and a draft follow-up filed to the job.Machine shopsHow it works
- Customer communicationSupport ticket triageSorts customer requests for spares, rework, returns and paperwork, matches the job, and sends line-down ones first.Machine shopsHow it works
- Billing & paymentsBuilt for a clientInvoicing automationBuilds a draft invoice from the shipped job, with quantities, tooling and outside processing, for the office to review.Machine shopsHow it works
- Billing & paymentsPayment remindersSends buyers and AP polite reminders with the invoice and PO before and after the due date, and stops when paid.Machine shopsHow it works
- Billing & paymentsSupplier invoice processingReads material, tooling and outside processing invoices, matches them to POs and receipts, and drafts bills.Machine shopsHow it works
- Billing & paymentsExpense receipt routingReceipts for tooling, inserts and shop supplies are texted in, matched to the card charge and coded to the job.Machine shopsHow it works
- Billing & paymentsBank and payment reconciliationMatches customer ACH payments, checks and portal payments to invoices, and flags short pays and early-pay discounts.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsBuilt for a clientMulti-supplier stock lookupChecks bar, plate and tooling price and stock across several suppliers at once, next to what's on your rack.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsBuilt for a clientMaterial optimization & job costingPlans bar and plate cuts for each job, prices it from that plan, and compares estimated to actual hours and material.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsBuilt for a clientProduction tracking boardA live board of every job by machine and operation, updated from the floor, so the schedule matches reality.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsBuilt for a clientApproval workflowsRoutes quotes below minimum margin, expedite fees and rework or scrap decisions to the owner, and logs each answer.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsCompliance trackingTracks gauge calibration, ISO and AS9100 audits, ITAR registration and customer approvals before they lapse.Machine shopsHow it works
- Inventory & operationsRecurring task coordinationCreates repeating machine maintenance and housekeeping tasks with a checklist, and follows up until they're done.Machine shopsHow it works
- Team & HREmployee onboardingRuns a new machinist's first weeks: paperwork, safety training, machine sign-offs, ITAR checks and check-ins.Machine shopsHow it works
- Team & HRTimesheets & payroll prepCollects clock-ins and job time from the floor, flags gaps and overtime, and sends approved hours to payroll.Machine shopsHow it works
- Team & HRStaff schedulingDrafts first and second shift schedules from machine loads and who can run what, and fills open shifts.Machine shopsHow it works
- Data & reportingBuilt for a clientSystem syncKeeps customers, quotes, jobs and invoices in step between the quoting tool, the ERP and accounting.Machine shopsHow it works
- Data & reportingAutomated reportingA weekly report of on-time shipments, quotes won, machine hours, scrap and late jobs, with a short summary.Machine shopsHow it works
- Data & reportingData cleanup and alertsFinds duplicate customers, jobs with no routing, expired quotes still open and odd material codes in the ERP.Machine shopsHow it works
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