Project flow
From specification to delivery: the journey of a mold
Every step inherits the data of the one before. When the mold is finished you have the whole story, not just an invoice.
In use available today In development being developed Roadmap planned
| Step | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Specification and part drawings | Specification, part 3D and 2D are attached to the quote and move to the mold card when the order is confirmed. New revisions never delete old ones; the system records which quote was based on which revision and who opened or downloaded each file. | In use |
| Quote suggestions from the specification | Tolerance, surface, material, tool life and special requirements are suggested; each suggestion shows its source page and quote, and nothing is saved until you select it. | In use |
| Part feature card | Outer dimensions, volume, weight, material, cavities, runner, slides, undercuts, surface, tolerance, mold type. If an automatic value is changed by hand, old and new values are logged. | In use |
| Automatic dimensions from STEP | When the part file is uploaded, outer dimensions and volume are calculated automatically. | In development |
| Technical quote sheet | Your master mold template is copied into every new quote. Revisions, PDF, quote forecast. | In use |
| Quoted hours per component | Cavity, core, slides, electrodes, EDM, polishing, assembly, tryout and the components you add. | In use |
| Similar molds | The most similar past molds appear on a new quote; their actual hours can be pulled into the quote with one click. | In use |
| Alternatives | Options such as 2 and 4 cavities side by side with instant pricing; the first price given to the customer is kept. | In use |
| Quote in the customer's language | Quote sheet lines carry German and Arabic names and are printed in the customer's language. | In use |
| Payment plan and down payment | Payment milestones; the local-currency equivalent of a foreign-currency down payment is shown on the order. | In use |
| Mold card | Opened automatically with a mold number when the order is confirmed. Repair orders link to the same mold. | In use |
| Design and CAM assignment | Each mold item is assigned to a designer and a CAM programmer; unassigned list, tracking and "my jobs" screens. | In use |
| Parts list import | The designer's spreadsheet; columns are mapped once, a part without material does not block the import, and manufacturer and catalogue codes of standard parts are saved. | In use |
| Steel block suggestion | Raw block size from the finished size; a matching block in stock is reserved, otherwise a purchase requisition is created. | In use |
| Order-linked purchasing and steel blocks | Requisitions and orders from the parts list; steel stock tracked as labelled blocks, not just kilograms. | In use |
| CAM programs and routing | Program and time per part, machine and setup; the routing is built from CAM. | In use |
| Import from CAM software | Programs and times read from the CAM software's operation list. | Roadmap |
| Scheduling | Load and timeline views; an expected finish date for every mold when priorities change or a scenario is tested. | In use |
| Machine screen | Start, pause and finish from a tablet or phone; name and PIN; TV mode; keeps working when the internet drops. | In use |
| Machine connection | A device on the machine sends running, idle and alarm states; the machine time is suggested when the operation is reported. | In use |
| Machine alerts | Reason prompt after a long stop (with a suggestion based on the alarm code), after-hours alarm, idle machine, note to the CAM programmer. | In use |
| Subcontracting | Dispatch record, status flow, values measured on return, delay report. | In use |
| Time deviation and hour reason | Planned vs. actual time; hours are marked as normal, customer change or nonconformity. | In use |
| Quoted, CAM and actual comparison | Three times side by side; the estimator's, the CAM programmer's and the shop floor's deviations are shown separately. | In use |
| Live mold cost | What share of the quote has been used while the mold is in progress; a closing record at delivery. | In use |
| Tryout and process sheet | T0, T1, T2 parameters and findings; the approved setting is frozen as the process sheet. | In use |
| Quality | 8D reports, first-article approval, defect analysis, scrap trend. | In use |
| Customer link | Stage, tryout summary, sample approval or rejection, customer comments; prices are not shown. | In use |
| Mold passport | Version frozen at delivery; PDF and ZIP in the customer's language; QR label. A repair creates a new version. | In use |
Three times, three different questions
When quoted hours, CAM time and actual time are kept together, you see where the problem was when a mold loses money instead of arguing about it.
Why it matters: In most mold shops this information is spread across different programs and people. When it builds up in one place you manage today's mold and gain a reliable history for the next quote.
| Comparison | Question it answers |
|---|---|
| Quoted vs. actual | Did we make money on this mold? |
| Quoted vs. CAM | Did we estimate the quote correctly? |
| CAM vs. actual | Did the shop floor run the program as planned? |