How to Write a Spring RFQ That Gets Fast, Accurate Quotes
The difference between a two-day quote and a two-week email chain is almost always the first message. Here is the RFQ that manufacturers answer immediately.
The complete RFQ checklist
1. Part definition (one of these):
- Dimensioned drawing (PDF; STEP for complex parts) — what a good drawing contains
- Physical sample (we reverse-engineer and return a drawing for approval)
- Functional description: "must push 5 N at 20 mm height, fit in Ø12 bore" — enough for us to design
2. Material and finish — or the environment, and let us propose (selection guide)
3. Quantities: annual volume + lot size + first-order quantity. Three numbers, three different cost effects.
4. Schedule: when samples are needed; when production starts. Typical lead times here.
5. Quality level: commercial / PPAP level / certificates needed (material, origin, RoHS).
6. Destination country — it drives packaging, documents, and Incoterms.
What speeds quotes most
- State the application. One sentence ("return spring in dental chair, 200k cycles") lets engineers price the right process the first time
- Give load requirements, not just dimensions — springs are bought for force
- Flag the flexible variables. "OD fixed by bore; free length flexible" invites cost-saving proposals
- Name your current pain if resourcing: price target, quality history, or supply risk — quotes get shaped accordingly
What slows quotes
Drawings without loads, "best price" with no quantities, unbuildable tolerance stacks (tolerance guide), and unanswered clarifying questions. Every question we ask exists to prevent a bad part.
Our RFQ form walks through exactly these fields — most buyers complete it in ten minutes, and quotes with engineering notes typically return within two business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
I only have a competitor's part, no drawing. Can I still RFQ?
Yes — mail the sample. We measure, document, and quote from a drawing you approve. Note any known weaknesses of the part so we improve rather than clone them.
Should I reveal target prices?
It helps more than it hurts. A target tells us which design levers to pull (material, tolerance, process) to hit your number — or to say honestly that it is not achievable and why.
How many suppliers should I RFQ simultaneously?
Two or three serious ones beat ten superficial ones — deep quotes take engineering hours, and suppliers prioritize buyers who seem to be choosing, not surveying.