Additive Manufacturing Service Bureau Quoting worked example

Quote Turnaround Workload at 22% complexity review allowance: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop complexity review allowance to 22%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate quoting labor hours from RFQ count, quote-processing throughput, and complexity allowance.

The inputs for this scenario

  • RFQ line items to quote: 55 line items (held at the documented default)
  • Quoting throughput per estimator: 0.35 items / min (held at the documented default)
  • Complexity review allowance: 22 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 30)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base quoting workload = RFQ line items รท quote processing throughput.
  • Quote turnaround workload works out to 192 hr at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Base quoting workload works out to 157 hr at these inputs.
  • Complexity review allowance works out to 22 % at these inputs.
  • Quote processing throughput works out to 0.35 items / min at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where complexity review allowance sits at 30% and the headline result is 204 hr, this scenario comes in 6.15% below the baseline at 192 hr.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to complexity review allowance, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It assumes a steady average throughput; a batch dominated by novel multi-process parts can blow past the allowance, while simple repeat parts may clear far faster.

Results at a glance

  • Quote turnaround workload: 192 hr (headline result)
  • Base quoting workload: 157 hr
  • Complexity review allowance: 22 %
  • Quote processing throughput: 0.35 items / min

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Quote Turnaround Workload calculator, set complexity review allowance to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.