N
I am so happy to have the Cove to go to. You folks are a massive source of info and support...that being said...
Our company has a loose structure, the owners and operations manager are the sales people...we also have operations staff, Technicians, Support, Admin, and Engineering. I've got the buy in of everyone in the company with the exception of the SALES Group. Our owners and Ops manager are bought into the system where it connects with everything EXCEPT SALES. So the initial point of contact between our company and our clients is fast and loose while the rest of us are towing the quality line. Here's an example:
One of Upper Management was contacted by our biggest client hot for a bid on a project that was "just like" another project we did in the past. Unfortunately, and we didn't know this up front, it was just NOT like the other project in just enough ways to make a huge difference in material costs and man hours and lead time.
Since the client needed the quote next day, the old project was used as the basis for the quote...and we got the project...
Now we get into the nitty gritty of design...and it's massively different...and our owner comes to me wanting to know how this could happen. So I explain that if we'd have done our due diligence and asked the important questions and followed our bid process we'd have known up front that this wasn't, in fact, just like the other project and we'd have been able to account for these issues. As obvious as that is he just can't accept it. He wants to be able to quote projects fast but have it be 100% accurate.
I'm frustrated, and at a loss as to how to proceed. All of our projects could be considered custom, so there's no real chance to setup proper quoting templates. I'm working on data gathering sheets to help get proper information but am afraid that when it comes to these quick bids, they'll be thrown to the curb.
Any advise would be appreciated!
thanks!
Nick
Our company has a loose structure, the owners and operations manager are the sales people...we also have operations staff, Technicians, Support, Admin, and Engineering. I've got the buy in of everyone in the company with the exception of the SALES Group. Our owners and Ops manager are bought into the system where it connects with everything EXCEPT SALES. So the initial point of contact between our company and our clients is fast and loose while the rest of us are towing the quality line. Here's an example:
One of Upper Management was contacted by our biggest client hot for a bid on a project that was "just like" another project we did in the past. Unfortunately, and we didn't know this up front, it was just NOT like the other project in just enough ways to make a huge difference in material costs and man hours and lead time.
Since the client needed the quote next day, the old project was used as the basis for the quote...and we got the project...
Now we get into the nitty gritty of design...and it's massively different...and our owner comes to me wanting to know how this could happen. So I explain that if we'd have done our due diligence and asked the important questions and followed our bid process we'd have known up front that this wasn't, in fact, just like the other project and we'd have been able to account for these issues. As obvious as that is he just can't accept it. He wants to be able to quote projects fast but have it be 100% accurate.
I'm frustrated, and at a loss as to how to proceed. All of our projects could be considered custom, so there's no real chance to setup proper quoting templates. I'm working on data gathering sheets to help get proper information but am afraid that when it comes to these quick bids, they'll be thrown to the curb.
Any advise would be appreciated!
thanks!
Nick