Build a repeatable workflow for quotes with consistent assumptions, margin targets, and PDF exports.

1) Standardize commercial assumptions

Quoting automation is only reliable when the economic inputs are controlled.

Rates: Lock machine hourly rates, setup fees, labor rates, and overhead allocation per quarter.
Materials: Maintain a price list with effective dates, supplier, and MOQ/breaks; expire old prices.
Energy & gas: Capture kWh and gas cost per hour by machine/material stack.
Margins: Define target and floor margins by customer tier (New, Strategic, OEM) and by deal size.
Rounding: Standardize currency rounding (e.g., to $0.10) and freight handling rules.

2) Inputs → routings → costs (repeatable extraction)

File intake: Validate CAD (units mm, closed contours, no duplicates). Capture metadata: material, thickness, finish, quantity tiers.
Routing build: Derive operations (program, load, cut, deburr, bend, finish) with standard times and formulas.
Cycle time calc: From geometry: cutting length, number of pierces, rapid moves; apply machine parameters from your cut database.
Setup amortization: Split setup time across quantity tier (1, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500).
Material calc: Use nesting utilization or conservative yield to compute sheet usage and scrap cost.

Quantity ladder: Quote at least 5 tiers (1, 10, 50, 100, 250) to capture scale effects.
Setup allocation: Unit setup cost = Setup time × Rate ÷ Qty.
Price floors: Enforce minimum margin per tier; flag any tier below floor for approval.
Bundle logic: Combine SKUs that share setup to improve effective price for customer while protecting margin.

Target vs floor: Display both; color-code below-floor tiers for manager approval.
Discount scenarios: Simulate % discount effect on gross margin and contribution per hour.
Exception logging: Record reason codes (strategic logo, excess capacity, competitive match).

Header: Quote ID, validity, lead time, incoterms, payment terms.
Table: Quantity tiers, unit price, tooling/setup line, notes.
Assumptions: Material grade, finish, tolerances, exclusions, and revision date.
Branding: Use unified template with logo, contact, and CTA.

Version control: Increment revision on any commercial change; keep immutable history.
Change log: Who, when, what changed (rates, tiers, discounts, assumptions).
Status: Draft → Sent → Customer discussion → Won/Lost; store acceptance evidence.