EstimatingM1
RFQ Parsing & Spec Extraction
Turning a messy RFQ into a clean spec is the entry point of the whole quote. Get this wrong and every downstream step (pricing, tooling, delivery) is wrong.
Lesson 1 of 3
The 3-question triage
Before you extract anything, ask three questions of the RFQ email: (1) What packaging type is this? (2) Is the dieline / structure locked, or does it need to be designed? (3) Is the timeline realistic for our current schedule?
If any of the three is unclear, that's a clarification email BEFORE you extract. You'll save yourself a re-extraction later.
Lesson 2 of 3
Extract with Impressly's schema
The RFQ Spec Extractor branches its output by packaging type. Use it. But remember: it will return null for anything not clearly stated. Your job is to look at every null and decide — clarify, or quote with assumption?
Lesson 3 of 3
The 'null-field triage' matrix
For each null field the extractor returns, use this decision matrix:
Non-critical + you know the customer's history → quote with 'assumes [X]'
Non-critical + new customer → send one-line clarification
Critical (changes tooling / substrate / structure) → ALWAYS clarify, never assume
Ambiguous language ('gloss labels') → ALWAYS clarifyCheck yourself
Quick quiz
1. The extractor returns null for 'adhesive' on a label RFQ from a new customer. What do you do?
2. A folding-carton RFQ is missing the dieline reference. This is: