Tag: Sheet Metal Fabrication Estimating Software

Costimator is very fast fabrication cost estimating and quoting software for sheet metal parts with hundreds of cost models.

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How Accurate Is Cost Estimating Software?

A Seasoned Expert Determines How the Accuracy of Cost Estimating Software is Legit

How Accurate Is Cost Estimating Software

As a Sales Director at a Cost Estimating Software company, I get the question, “How accurate is your cost estimating software?” quite often. The simple answer is that the software is always as accurate as the data that is imported into the software. Not every machining center machines at the same rate, not every laser cuts at the same rate, and not every press brake bends at the same rate. Since not every company has the exact same equipment, uses the same type of tooling, purchases raw material at the same price or has the same shop rate, no off the shelf cost estimating software will generate perfectly accurate cycle times and costs without some level of data configuration specific to the company using it.

Garbage In, Garbage Out  

The main benefits of utilizing cost estimating software are increased speed, accuracy and consistency of estimates. These benefits are achieved, in large part, through the use of standardized, formula-driven methods of calculating labor and machine cycle times (rather than relying solely on the opinion, or experience, of an estimator). The accuracy of a quote generated by estimating software is highly dependent on the back-end data and formulas that produce the results. If the raw data imported into the cost estimating software is garbage, a garbage estimate is what you can expect to receive in return.

Take For Example, Estimating Laser Cutting Times

Not every laser machine has the same characteristics or cut-rate capabilities. In order for any costing software to generate an accurate cycle time calculation, it first needs to be loaded with the cuts rates associated with the particular laser machine(s) that your shop owns.

Established cost estimating software companies have solutions that come with out-of-the-box data for the various manufacturing processes their system support. The better tools will make it easy to modify and add to the base data in an effort to dial in the numbers to better reflect a particular shop’s equipment and core competencies. The more advanced systems will enable companies to mass import raw material and purchased item pricing, work center shops rates and customer contact information, most of which is typically stored in their ERP system. The database configuration process is critical to having a software tool that will consistently generate an accurate cost estimate for your shop.

No Two Shops Are The Same

It’s simply not realistic to think that off the shelf cost estimating software will be able to generate an accurate estimate for YOUR SHOP until your shop’s data has been loaded into it. The process of doing that, if the software you choose comes with out-of-the-box data, is not necessarily that time consuming. In fact, some software companies provide the database configuration service as part of their overall offering.

The good news is, once the configuration process is complete your company now has an estimating system that will increase the speed, consistency and accuracy of its quotes. For most shops, the result is greater quoting throughput, higher RFQ win rates and increased sales and profits.

Learn more about How Accurate Cost Estimating Software is by Evaluating Costimator

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Sheet Metal Safety Tips that Affect Costs

While many professionals in the sheet metal fabrication business can agree on all of the following safety issues, there are times that “common sense ” is sometimes overlooked. Much of managing and implementing proper safety standards and procedures begins by brainstorming situations and estimating the effects of not having reasonable safety procedures in place. Working without a plan, in a new production environment or where characteristics of the environment change, exposes workers to the “trial and error” effects on injury. It doesn’t take a whole lot of planning to foresee, prevent, or at least reduce the possibility for injuries.

When safety is compromised, injuries can increase a company’s overhead cost, which ultimately increases part costs and/or reduces a company’s profits.

Gene Barsaleau, one of our cost estimating trainers, who also had been working in the sheet metal business for 30 years, has the following recommended Sheet Metal Safety Tips tips and real life experiences he shares here:

Top 10 Sheet Metal Safety Tips for Manufacturing that Affect Costs! 

1.) Gloves– Select good ones and don’t just carry them – wear them. “They can be a hand saver, even when you or your co-workers may think the immediate job is “a quick move and carry.”  Take the time to get your gloves on for protection. A simple cut not only can become a serious infection it can delay and/or affect your ability to remain employed. This costs you and your company money. Even if you are still able to work its likely you are operating less effectively.”

2.) Too big to handle – Recognize what is too big to handle. “Too many times I’ve seen workers, even family members, go at a job or task with the ‘I can do it attitude’ and that’s just when injury likes to lend a hand (no pun intended).”

3.) Don’t scrimp on hoisting equipment – “Material moving tools are expensive, but losing an employee is much worse. The good news is that an effective hoisting tool can greatly reduce the time to manufacturing parts by reducing the time to move parts and materials. The time savings converts to sheet metal fabrication cost savings. Pass this cost savings along to your customer, reap higher profits, or both. It can be a win-win for all.”

4.) Don’t try to stop Inertia – Inertia, (the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest, or the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion), rules how easy it will be to stop “out of control” metal from causing harm to you or others – “get out of its way.”

5.) Know the limits of fork lift trucks – Just because you aren’t the driver doesn’t mean you should be ignorant to its limitations of gravity and strength. “I once dropped a 40″ plate of steel because the back wheels lost contact with the floor.”

6.) Safety Glasses/ Helmets – “While it’s easy to throw this on the list it’s not easy, or acceptable, to show graphically what can happen to the eyes or head when impaled with flying debris – wear them always.”

7.) Hearing Protection – “What did you say? Don’t be a hero…save your hearing!”

8.) Steel toe shoes – “These can make a difference between having toes and not having them!”

9.) No loose clothing – We hear this more and more. “Don’t become another statistic because you had strings attached.”

10.) Don’t work under the influence – While obvious… always read the labels. “Even over the counter medications can affect your ability to function safely.”