Method and apparatus for enhancing the business and engineering communication between a supplier and a buyer

A method configured to exchange data between a buyer and a plurality of suppliers via an electronic on-line communication network having a physical infrastructure including a back end supplier on-line server and an internet supplier on-line server, the method comprising:

• generating a request for a quotation intended for at least some of the plurality of suppliers for a cost of a part or device;
• determining if the request for the quotation will include attachments;
• generating documents for inclusion as attachments to the request for quotation, the request for quotation and attachments including both engineering and business documents;
• determining that the request for quotation is for a commodity part or device or is for a non-commodity part or device, and (i) selecting which of the generated documents are to be attached as part of an item bidding process corresponding to each of the commodity parts or devices or (ii) selecting which of the generated documents are to be attached as part of a service bidding process corresponding to each of the non-commodity parts or devices, the commodity part or device being found in a catalog;
• building the request for quotation, including joining the selected business and engineering documentation into a request for quotation pack;
• registering information in one of the item bidding process for commodity parts or devices or the service bidding process for non-commodity parts or devices;
• selecting the suppliers that are to receive the request for quotation pack;
• making the request for quotation pack available to selected suppliers on an electronic on-line communication network web site;
• synchronizing the request for quotation pack with data of internal and external databases;
• receiving from at least one of the selected suppliers by the internet supplier on-line server, a supplier quotation comprising supplier documentation and supplier business information;
• generating a buyer notification e-mail by the electronic on-line communication network in response to receiving the supplier quotation;
• and
• displaying the request for quotation pack on a computing device for at least one of the selected suppliers.

A method configured to exchange data between a buyer and a plurality of suppliers via an electronic on-line communication network having a physical infrastructure including a back end supplier on-line server and an internet supplier on-line server, the method comprising:

• generating a request for a quotation intended for at least some of the plurality of suppliers for a cost of a part or device;
• determining if the request for the quotation will include attachments;
• generating documents for inclusion as attachments to the request for quotation, the request for quotation and attachments including both engineering and business documents;
• determining that the request for quotation is for a commodity part or device or is for a non-commodity part or device, and (i) selecting which of the generated documents are to be attached as part of an item bidding process corresponding to each of the commodity parts or devices or (ii) selecting which of the generated documents are to be attached as part of a service bidding process corresponding to each of the non-commodity parts or devices, the commodity part or device being found in a catalog;
• building the request for quotation, including joining the selected business and engineering documentation into a request for quotation pack;
• registering information in one of the item bidding process for commodity parts or devices or the service bidding process for non-commodity parts or devices;
• selecting the suppliers that are to receive the request for quotation pack;
• making the request for quotation pack available to selected suppliers on an electronic on-line communication network web site;
• synchronizing the request for quotation pack with data of internal and external databases;
• receiving from at least one of the selected suppliers by the internet supplier on-line server, a supplier quotation comprising supplier documentation and supplier business information;
• generating a buyer notification e-mail by the electronic on-line communication network in response to receiving the supplier quotation;
• displaying the request for quotation pack on a computing device for at least one of the selected suppliers;
• and
• downloading the engineering documents to at least one of a CAD workstation, a plotter, and a CNC machine, wherein the engineering documents control operation of the at least one of the CAD workstation, the plotter, and the CNC machine which generates at least one of a printed document or a manufactured part.