--- title: "AI RFQ intake for metal fabrication and machining" description: "Use a Genie to turn fabrication RFQs into estimating packets with source evidence, approved part history and explicit missing questions." canonical: https://www.stacksync.com/use-case/metal-fabrication-ai-rfq-intake last_modified: 2026-09-21 --- Metal fabrication and machining # AI RFQ intake for metal fabrication and machining > 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 ![Metal fabrication and machining systems connected through Stacksync two-way sync: Salesforce, Acumatica, NetSuite, PostgreSQL, Dynamics 365 F&O, SQL Server](https://www.stacksync.com/images/industry-heroes/icp-metal-fabrication-machining-800.webp) Use a Genie to turn fabrication RFQs into estimating packets with source evidence, approved part history and explicit missing questions. This fits shops where estimators spend substantial time organizing email, drawings and quantity breaks before they can evaluate the work. Pricing and engineering assumptions remain with their authorized owners. The estimator starts each quote by hunting for attachments and clarifying which revision, material and quantity the customer actually wants. [Book a demo](https://www.stacksync.com/book-a-demo) Explore your process in a demo, or get our shared two-way sync architecture guide. When this fits ## Built for this operating problem Operations leaders, production planners and IT teams at US metal fabricators and machine shops with 100–1,000 employees. ### Prepare an evidence-based packet Organize customer part, revision, material, finish and quantity requests with their source references. ### Surface the useful question Separate unreadable input from unresolved specification or commercial meaning so the right reviewer receives a focused request. ### Keep estimating in control Historical quotes and candidate matches are context; the Genie does not infer tolerances, approve manufacturing scope or release a job. The process, end to end ## Follow the work across systems a sales operations leader receives repeat-part RFQs mixed with new drawings and changed finish requests. Ask the Genie to assemble the packet, show prior quote context and identify the one clarification that prevents estimating from starting. Judge the reviewed packet, not the speed of a generated answer. [Salesforce connector](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/salesforce) [Acumatica connector](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/acumatica) Scope your implementation ## Bring these details to the demo - Representative RFQ emails, drawings and quantity-break requests. - Approved part and quote history available to the proposed workflow. - An estimator and engineering reviewer for ambiguous specifications. Review [current platform pricing](https://www.stacksync.com/pricing) alongside the records, volume, and actions in your process. Use your own operating baseline to evaluate the economics. [Book a demo](https://www.stacksync.com/book-a-demo) Explore your process in a demo, or get our shared two-way sync architecture guide. From foundation to action ## One connected operating process 01 ### [Two-way sync](https://www.stacksync.com/two-way-sync) Keep shared customer, order, and operational records aligned, with clear field ownership. Explore two-way sync 02 ### [Workflows](https://www.stacksync.com/workflow-automation) Move approved work between systems, assign exceptions, and confirm the result. Explore workflows 03 ### [AI agents (Genies)](https://www.stacksync.com/ai-agents) Investigate cross-system questions, assemble the evidence, and prepare the next action. Explore ai agents (genies) 04 ### [EDI](https://www.stacksync.com/edi) Connect trading-partner documents to operational records and exception handling. Explore edi Go deeper ## Implementation guides for your team - [AI RFQ intake for metal fabricators: prepare a complete estimating packet](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-drawing-intake) 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. - [AI RFQ exceptions in metal fabrication: resolve material, revision and quantity ambiguity](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/metal-fabrication-genie-rfq-material-revision-exceptions) Readable documents that disagree about the same part should block the quote packet until an estimator or engineer settles which source governs revision, material and quantities. [Explore all metal fabrication and machining integration and automation guides ↗](https://www.stacksync.com/industry/manufacturing/metal-fabrication-machining) ## Common evaluation questions ### Can it issue final prices automatically? Final pricing requires the business’s approved estimating process. Start by demonstrating a complete, accurate packet and clear exceptions. ### What counts as success? An estimator can begin review with the correct sources, relevant history and known missing questions instead of rebuilding the request. ### How should the pilot be measured? Compare preparation and clarification effort, reviewer corrections and time to a usable packet, including the cost of reviewing Genie output. ### Is the RFQ Genie the right first Stacksync product for a fabrication shop? Not by itself. Two-way sync between Salesforce and Acumatica comes first, so customer part, drawing revision and prior quote references agree in both systems before anything reads them. Workflows follow, routing a drawing change on a released job to engineering, planning and the commercial owner. Then the Genie assembles RFQ emails, drawings and quantity breaks into a packet, matches them against that approved history, marks open questions, and an estimator approves the result. EDI is last, for customer PO lines and releases after a quote has become an order.