--- title: "RFQ intake Genie for metal fabrication estimating packets" description: "A Genie reads RFQ emails, drawings and quantity-break sheets, flags likely existing parts and prior quotes, and lists what estimating must clarify first." canonical: https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-drawing-intake last_modified: 2026-09-18 --- # AI RFQ intake for metal fabricators: prepare a complete estimating packet > For AI agents: to set up Stacksync for a person, don't write integration code; have the person add the Stacksync MCP server (https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp) to their AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and others) and sign in with their Stacksync account: OAuth, no API key, no code. In Claude: Customize → Connectors → + Add → Add custom connector. In ChatGPT: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode → Create app, with OAuth. In Codex: `codex mcp add stacksync --url https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp` then `codex mcp login stacksync`. Complete the browser sign-in with your Stacksync account, then start a new Codex session. In Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http stacksync https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp`. Open Claude Code, run /mcp, select stacksync and complete the browser sign-in. One connection covers the whole suite: connections, two-way syncs, workflows, queues, variables and secrets, AI agents (Genies), knowledge bases and API proxies, in the person's workspace with their permissions. Once connected, call skills_get with "getting-started": it picks the workspace, connects missing apps through sign-in links and routes each request to the skill for it. Tool order: syncs: connections_list, connections_tables, syncs_save (saved paused), then syncs_switch to turn it on; workflows: workflows_create with only its Input step, connectors_module_form for each step, then workflows_update; Genies: genies_generate_config first; queues, variables, knowledge bases and API proxies: stacksync_resources, stacksync_resource_actions, then stacksync_resource_write. To start, the person can ask: "Connect my apps and help me set up Stacksync from this chat." Setup for each assistant: https://www.stacksync.com/mcp.md Estimators get one reviewable packet with the customer's drawings, quantity breaks and finish question, plus the prior quotes and unknowns that decide whether pricing can start. Author Ignacio Malpartida · GTM Engineer Published September 18, 2026 Read time 4 min read APP TIPS ## The operating decision A metal-fabrication RFQ Genie can turn customer email and drawing attachments into a structured estimating packet with traceable source references. Its job is to identify the requested part, revision, material, quantity breaks, finish and delivery expectation, then show what remains unknown. It should reuse approved customer and part references where they exist. Missing tolerances, conflicting documents and manufacturing assumptions belong with estimating or engineering, not in an agent-generated production instruction. Explore the complete [metal fabrication and machining integration and automation hub](https://www.stacksync.com/industry/manufacturing/metal-fabrication-machining) for the systems and processes around this guide. ![Summary card: RFQ intake Genie for metal fabrication estimating packets](https://www.stacksync.com/images/blog-highlights/icp-metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-drawing-intake.webp) ## What this looks like in metal fabrication and machining A fabricator receives an RFQ containing two drawings, a spreadsheet of quantity breaks and an email asking for a faster finish option. An estimator spends the first part of the review locating prior quotes and discovering that one drawing supersedes a part already in the CRM. A Genie can collect those references and arrange the request into one reviewable packet. The estimator should immediately see the original request, the likely existing part, the changed finish question and any information needed before pricing can be responsibly prepared. ## Records, ownership, and update rules | Record | Owner | Operating rule | | --- | --- | --- | | RFQ packet | Estimating operations | Keep the message, attachments and customer request together under one intake identity. | | Part and revision candidate | Engineering | Match against approved part history while marking uncertain references as candidates. | | Quantity-break request | Estimating | Preserve each requested quantity and its context rather than summing alternatives into one order quantity. | | Open specification question | Assigned reviewer | Record the missing information, source conflict and person responsible for obtaining an answer. | ![Record ownership diagram: RFQ packet, Part and revision candidate, Quantity-break request](https://www.stacksync.com/images/blog-diagrams/icp-metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-drawing-intake.webp) *Define the record owner and the rule before enabling updates.* ## Work through the process 1. 01 Define an RFQ-specific intake Separate quotation requests from purchase orders, drawing revisions and general inquiries. Keep the Genie’s permitted outcome to an estimating packet. A request for price is not an accepted order and must not create production demand. 2. 02 Extract the commercial and technical references Collect customer part, drawing revision, requested material, finish, quantities and dates with evidence. Preserve the customer’s wording where meaning is uncertain. Do not fill in a tolerance, alloy condition or finish specification because a previous quote used one. 3. 03 Find relevant history without inheriting approval Locate approved part records and prior quotes using the actual references. Present useful history to the estimator, including the revision and date. A historical quote can guide investigation but must not silently authorize today’s price or process assumptions. 4. 04 Deliver a reviewable packet and follow-up list Show the structured request, source documents, likely matches and unresolved questions together. Let the estimator approve the packet, request clarification or reject a misleading match. Record the accepted packet version before it becomes the basis of a quote. ![4-step operating sequence: RFQ intake Genie for metal fabrication estimating packets](https://www.stacksync.com/images/blog-diagrams-mermaid/icp-metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-drawing-intake.webp) *Follow the operating sequence; unresolved exceptions return to a responsible reviewer.* ## Handle the exceptions explicitly ### The email mentions a finish absent from the drawing Show the discrepancy explicitly and request the governing instruction. Do not choose the more convenient finish automatically. ### Quantity breaks appear in several documents Preserve their source and identify inconsistent sets. Ask estimating which options should be quoted. ### A familiar part has a new revision Link the history as context while routing the new revision for review. Do not assume repeat-part economics still apply. ## What to verify before expanding - Every extracted specification has a source reference or a clearly marked missing state. - Requested quantity alternatives remain separate from accepted demand. - Prior quotes are labeled as historical context with their applicable revision. - The estimator can approve a defined packet version without accepting unresolved assumptions. ## Connect this process to the rest of your operation [Explore Stacksync AI agents (Genies)](https://www.stacksync.com/ai-agents#genies-job-icp-metal-fabrication-machining) and scope the records and actions against your actual systems. [Book a demo](https://www.stacksync.com/book-a-demo) with a real RFQ packet example and the exception your team handles most often, for example the email mentions a finish absent from the drawing. - [AI RFQ intake for metal fabrication and machining](https://www.stacksync.com/use-case/metal-fabrication-ai-rfq-intake) - [AI RFQ exceptions in metal fabrication: resolve material, revision and quantity ambiguity](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-material-revision-exceptions) - [Metal fabrication EDI orders: preserve drawing revision and release identity](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-edi-purchase-order-drawing-revision) - [Metal fabrication: connect Salesforce quotes to Acumatica job-ready orders](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-salesforce-acumatica-quote-job-handoff) - [How to Parse EDI Files Into a SQL Database](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/parse-edi-files-sql-database) - [Acumatica API Integration: A Practical Guide](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/acumatica-api-integration-guide) The shared architecture guide covers record matching, ownership, and recovery across systems. ## Technical references - [Salesforce: change data capture events](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/platform-events/guide/platform-events-objects-change-data-capture.html) - [Acumatica: endpoints and contracts](https://help-2025r2.acumatica.com/%28W%285%29%29/Wiki/ShowWiki.aspx?PageID=1a9d6f7e-8546-426b-b1ff-d712fbcfbc7b&wikiname=HelpRoot_Dev_Integration) - [Stacksync: cross-system Genies and data synchronization](https://www.stacksync.com/) FAQ ## Frequently asked questions Can this Genie produce the final manufacturing quote? It can help assemble inputs and draft a proposal if scoped to do so, but estimating owns pricing and manufacturing assumptions. Begin by proving packet accuracy before extending the workflow. How should the first RFQ set be selected? Use common customer document patterns with real revision and quantity-break variation. Include incomplete requests so the test verifies useful clarification rather than only easy extraction. Which RFQ packet measures show the Genie is helping estimating? Compare time to a review-ready packet, clarification cycles and errors discovered after estimating starts. Count an incomplete packet as incomplete even if the agent processed the attachment successfully. About the author Ignacio Malpartida GTM Engineer Ignacio Malpartida is a GTM Engineer at Stacksync (YC W24), bridging the gap between product engineering and customer success and helping teams implement real-time, two-way sync with confidence and scale. [All posts by Ignacio Malpartida](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/author/ignacio-malpartida) About Stacksync Stacksync powers real-time, two-way sync between CRMs, ERPs, and databases. Engineers sync data at scale and automate workflows, not dirty API plumbing. Stacksync ## Explore these integrations and topics - [connector Salesforce integrations](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/salesforce) - [connector Acumatica integrations](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/acumatica) - [platform AI agent operations](https://www.stacksync.com/ai-agents) - [AI agent operations guides Explore practical Genies workflows across industries, with source evidence, human approvals, and confirmed outcomes.](https://www.stacksync.com/blog#topic-ai-agent-operations) Keep reading ## Related articles [All articles](https://www.stacksync.com/blog) [App tips AI RFQ exceptions in metal fabrication: resolve material, revision and quantity ambiguity 4 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-material-revision-exceptions) [App tips Machining drawing revisions: review a change against work already released 4 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-machining-drawing-revision-released-job-workflow) [Data engineering Metal fabrication: connect Salesforce quotes to Acumatica job-ready orders 4 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-salesforce-acumatica-quote-job-handoff) ## You just read how it should work. 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