Paperless Parts' AI-Powered Automation Tool Streamlines Quoting

Paperless Parts’ Wingman, software solution is an AI-powered automation tool to make quoting from prints faster, more efficient and less error-prone.

Paperless Parts Wingman is powered by a secure AI model developed to extract critical information from quote packages — including emails, prints and models — so that estimators can work faster, automate administrative aspects of setting up quotes and minimize the risk of missing important details. Paperless Parts first introduced AI assistance in its platform in early 2024, enabling users to extract metadata and key details, including part number, drawing number, revision, description and RFQ received date. Wingman builds on that functionality and includes the ability to automatically extract new critical details from prints.

Specifically, the software can identify and extract over 10,000 ASTM, AMS, MIL-SPEC, NADCAP and OEM-specific process/material specifications; identify thread specifications that may indicate taps, inserts or other hardware; identify common process keywords such as anodizing, welding and heat treating that may require additional operations; detect if anywhere on the print includes the words “CUI,” “ITAR” or “Export Controlled” to ensure files are marked and handled appropriately; and automatically extract materials from prints or metadata found within CAD files to predict the corresponding Paperless Parts material record. The company says it will soon be able to extract geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) symbols to quickly identify features that drive costs and introduce risk.

With Wingman, Paperless Parts can quickly surface critical details in prints that drive estimators’ decision process, such as:

• “Should I no-quote this item?”
• “Do I need to tag in a more experienced colleague to estimate this part?”
• “Is this a highly complex part that I should bake in extra margin to cover my downside?”
• “Does this part require an outside vendor?”
• “Will I require specific material certifications?”

“We’re just scratching the surface of what AI can do to de-risk the quoting process for shops,” said Scott Sawyer, chief scientist and co-founder of Paperless Parts. “When shops miss a critical detail on a print, it can cause them to under-quote and ultimately lose money on a job. Our goal with the technology we’re building is that estimators never miss those critical details.”

Paperless Parts’ approach to AI supports customers adhering to the most stringent security requirements. “While we see AI as an incredibly powerful unlock for manufacturing, shops need to be hyper-sensitive to how different companies are training and deploying AI models,” explains Jason Luce, Paperless Parts’ chief technology officer. “Any shop that works with CUI or cares about the security of their data needs to be certain that the cloud service providers they’re working with meet the FedRAMP Moderate standard and are not exposing them to compliance risk.”