Executive Summary #

Most manufacturing software problems are not isolated software problems. They are often workflow problems, data quality problems,
engineering process problems, ERP structure problems, or manufacturing execution problems.

A manufacturing discovery call is a structured assessment used to identify engineering, ERP, manufacturing, BOM, nesting,
service, and data synchronization bottlenecks before software implementation begins.

Key Takeaways #

• Discovery identifies root causes before software implementation begins.
• Many integration requests reveal upstream data or workflow issues.
• CAD-to-ERP integration should be built on accurate engineering and BOM data.
• Phased implementation plans reduce project risk and improve adoption.
• Discovery helps prevent companies from automating incomplete or inaccurate processes.
• QBuild uses discovery to align software implementation with real manufacturing workflows.

What Is a Manufacturing Discovery Call? #

A manufacturing discovery call is a structured process used to evaluate engineering workflows,
ERP systems, BOM management practices, manufacturing operations, and data synchronization requirements before software implementation begins.

The goal is to identify the true operational bottleneck and create a phased implementation strategy that supports long-term business goals.

Unlike a traditional software sales conversation, discovery focuses on how engineering, manufacturing, ERP, purchasing,
production, and service teams actually work before recommending a solution.

Why Is Discovery Important for Engineering-to-ERP Integration? #

Engineering-to-ERP integration connects critical product information between CAD, PDM, PLM, ERP, manufacturing,
purchasing, production, and service systems. If the underlying engineering data, BOM structure, change management process,
or manufacturing workflow contains gaps, integration can amplify those issues instead of solving them.

Discovery helps manufacturers answer important questions before implementation:

• Is engineering data complete and accurate?
• Are BOM structures reliable?
• Is ERP information ready for automation?
• Where does product data originate?
• How are engineering changes currently managed?
• Which workflow bottlenecks are slowing down production?
• What process should be automated first?
• What implementation sequence creates the lowest risk?

By answering these questions early, manufacturers reduce implementation risk, improve user adoption,
and increase the long-term value of their software investment.

Common Problems Discovery Helps Uncover #

Incomplete BOM Data #

Many manufacturers believe they need additional automation when the real problem is missing or incomplete engineering data.
Discovery can reveal missing ERP BOM records, incomplete job structures, manual data entry, inconsistent product information,
or unclear data ownership.

Automating incomplete information simply moves bad data faster. Discovery helps ensure the foundation is accurate before automation begins.

Engineering Change Management Gaps #

Manufacturers with complex products often struggle to manage part updates, BOM revisions, and engineering changes.
Without a controlled engineering change management process, manufacturing teams may receive outdated information,
ERP records can become misaligned, and revision control may suffer.

Discovery identifies these process gaps before they create larger operational problems.

Hidden Workflow Bottlenecks #

A customer may request one type of integration while the actual problem exists somewhere else in the process.
Examples include manual approvals, ERP implementation gaps, duplicate data entry, slow part creation,
incomplete nesting data, or disconnected field service information.

Discovery focuses on finding the root cause rather than treating the visible symptom.

The QBuild Discovery Methodology #

Step 1: Assess Current Workflows #

QBuild evaluates how engineering, ERP, manufacturing, nesting, purchasing, production, and service teams currently operate.
This includes reviewing existing workflows, data ownership, process dependencies, integration requirements, and known bottlenecks.

Step 2: Identify the Root Cause #

Instead of focusing only on the requested software project, QBuild investigates the business process behind the request.
The goal is to understand what is causing the problem, where information originates, what data is missing,
and which downstream processes depend on that information.

Step 3: Build a Phased Roadmap #

Once the workflow is understood, QBuild develops a phased implementation plan.
This approach helps reduce risk, improve adoption, protect operational continuity, and ensure each phase builds on a stable foundation.

Step 4: Deliver and Evolve #

The implementation is designed to evolve alongside the customer’s business requirements.
Depending on what discovery reveals, the solution may involve CADLink, NestLink, ECx Manager, ePartsBook,
or a custom approach designed around the customer’s actual process.

Real Manufacturing Discovery Examples #

Case Study 1: A Nesting Integration Request Revealed a BOM Data Problem #

Original Request: A Canada-based job shop manufacturing firm requested integration between its ERP system and nesting software.

Discovery Finding: During discovery, QBuild determined that the ERP job BOMs were missing the detailed engineering data