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RFQ to Production: What Happens After You Request a Quote
You hit “Request a Quote.” Now what? If you’re exploring a sewn, sealed (RF-welded), or thermoformed solution for an OEM application, the next steps should feel clear, collaborative, and confidence-building—not overwhelming. At Polo Custom Products, we’ve refined a customer-first process that guides you from early concept to mass production with transparency at every stage. Since 1947, we’ve helped teams bring complex ideas to life—efficiently, reliably, and at scale. We combine Industrial Sewing, RF (Radio Frequency) Sealing, and Thermoforming with rigorous quality systems to help OEMs move faster with less risk.
Step 1: Rapid Acknowledgment & Discovery
Once your RFQ is submitted, our team reviews your application details and reaches out to confirm scope, goals, timeline, and any regulatory or environmental constraints. We’ll also align on intended use, target volumes, and success criteria. If your program requires confidentiality, we can establish mutual NDAs before sharing drawings or CAD. From the start, our focus is simple: understand your needs and help you move faster with less risk. Our customers span highly regulated and mission-critical markets (medical, fire & safety, power sports, defense & aviation), so we’re set up to ask the right questions early.
Step 2: Phase-Gate Review with Development & Engineering
Qualified opportunities move into our Phase-Gate product development approach—our step-by-step framework for turning requirements into manufacturable designs. Here, we collaborate on material selection (fabrics, films, foams), feature integration (closures, hardware, laminations), and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) considerations. We can also source non-core components to simplify your supply base and keep the program moving.
- Structured gates keep teams aligned and flag risks early
- Cost, quality, and lead-time stay on track before tooling
- Materials and methods selected to fit the application
Step 3: Prototyping & Validation
With an agreed-upon path, we develop prototypes to prove fit, form, and function. Depending on the application, we may recommend material trials, weld/seam testing, or thermoform compression assessments to validate durability and protection. Because we manufacture across industrial sewing, RF sealing, and thermoforming, you’re never boxed into a single process—your product drives the method, not the other way around.
Step 4: Quality & Compliance Alignment
If you build products for regulated environments, you’ll appreciate our documented quality system. Polo uses ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 standards and aligns to FDA QSR 21 CFR Part 820 as a framework. That means your development activities, traceability, and production controls are supported by mature procedures and continuous improvement practices.
Step 5: Quotation You Can Act On
Your quote will clearly outline scope, materials, tooling (if any), MOQ/EOQ options, unit pricing at volume tiers, and lead-time expectations. We aim to present options so you can trade off speed, cost, and scalability with eyes wide open. Because we manage supply chain end-to-end—including sourcing, materials management, assembly/pack out, and warehousing—you can simplify suppliers and focus on growth.
- Transparent pricing and schedule assumptions
- Actionable options by volume tier (MOQ/EOQ)
- Clear tooling, lead time, and next steps
Step 6: Pilot Build, Scale-Up & Ongoing Support
After a PO is awarded, we lock critical-to-quality characteristics, complete a pilot build, and transition to steady-state production. With multiple U.S. locations and global partners, we can accommodate reshoring preferences, second-source continuity, or blended strategies to meet cost and responsiveness targets. You’ll have responsive points of contact and proactive communication throughout.
What Makes the Polo Experience Different?
- Multi-process depth — sewing, RF sealing (high-frequency, impulse, ultrasonic, thermo-contact), and thermoforming—so solutions fit the application, not a single factory capability
- OEM focus — built for engineered-to-order programs in demanding markets with the documentation, testing mindset, and program management systems to match
- Customer-growth mission — our mission is to “contribute to the growth and success of our customers”, guiding how we prioritize transparency, invest in process capability, and measure success
- Scalable production — domestic and global facilities for cost, continuity, and responsiveness
How to Get the Most from Your RFQ
To accelerate quoting and get a sharper proposal, include (where possible):
- 1. Drawings/CAD & key dimensions
- 2. Intended use environment (temperature, abrasion, fluids, sterility)
- 3. Target volumes (target volumes and target price)
- 4. Regulatory or quality notes (e.g., ISO 13485 requirements)
- 5. Timeline and budget priorities (speed vs. cost vs. flexibility)
- 6. Packaging requirements (individual polybag, carton, bulk pack, labeling, barcodes, etc.)
Don’t have all of that? No problem. Send what you have—we’ll help you fill in the gaps and recommend the right path forward!
Ready to Move from RFQ to Production?
From first conversation to pilot build and scale-up, our process is built to reduce risk and increase speed. Contact Polo Custom Products today to get started—or go straight to the form below and our team will respond quickly.
