Fabricating Partners has launched Fabricating.com, an online request for quote (RFQ) marketplace designed to help U.S. buyers build U.S. supplier networks and manufacture made-to-order parts. According to the company, the site helps streamline and manage the complexities of sourcing custom-manufactured products, parts and assemblies. The Web-based service supports more than 250 manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal fabricating and thermoforming. Buyers need only Internet access and a standard browser to access the marketplace from any location.
The Web site’s SourceNow platform analyzes part details from a buyer’s RFQ and locates U.S.-based contract manufacturers with the expertise and machine assets needed for the job. Suppliers then use the same paperless system to quote for business. The sourcing platform adheres to Web standards and provides support for CAD files, Excel spreadsheets and other popular engineering file formats. The solution can also be integrated with buy-side enterprise applications, and provides a central point for all sourcing intelligence with management tools and analytics for any size purchasing department.
The marketplace also provides RFQ opportunities for U.S. suppliers who want to build a customer pipeline or expand their current client base. The sourcing system analyzes each RFQ posted online by buyers, then flags the supplier when an opportunity matches their expertise, capacity and machine assets. The site can also be utilized to manage quotes, standardize procedures and keep track of engineering drawings and documents.
