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Case study · Sourcing

Two RFQs, seven days, quotes that hold.

In June 2026 SourceSquid ran two RFQs in India for a US automotive accessories brand: a textured ABS plaque and a cargo net kit. Quotes arrived in three to seven days, negotiation cut the unit price by 8.2% and then 4.3% more, and one material change saved 25.8% on the carabiner.

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8.2%
lower unit price, first round
4.3%
further, second round
25.8%
saved by switching carabiner material
United States · Automotive accessories
25.8%saved by one material change
  • ABS moulding
  • Mold-Tech textures
  • Webbing
  • Die casting
  • Negotiation
  • Value engineering
The brief

What the client asked for.

The client is a US automotive accessories brand. We keep its name confidential, as we do for every client who asks.

It needed two new parts sourced to automotive standards: a textured ABS plaque at 3,000 pieces a year, and a cargo net kit at 30,000 to 45,000 kits a year, rising to 120,000.

What we did

Step by step, decision by decision.

The real choices behind the result, in the order we made them.

  1. 01

    Plaque RFQ, issued on a 48-hour turnaround

    A 152.4 × 152.4 × 3.0 mm ABS plaque with four Mold-Tech texture zones, Pantone-matched masterbatch, a P20/H13 single-cavity tool, T1 and T2 samples and first-article inspection.

    OutputPlaque RFQ pack
  2. 02

    First plaque quote in three days

    A moulder in the NCR, in Faridabad, returned the first quote in three days, with 60 days for tool development.

    OutputQuote with tooling timeline
  3. 03

    Cargo net kit, split into three sub-assemblies

    Net panel, swivel carabiner and storage bag, each sent to the right specialist: webbing makers in Ahmedabad, a cargo-fittings maker, and a high-pressure die-casting shop in Bengaluru for the carabiner.

    OutputKit RFQ by sub-assembly
  4. 04

    Quality written into the RFQ

    D-rings rated to 500 lb minimum with SGS or NABL certificates, inspection at AQL 2.5 against a golden sample, and UV test data.

    OutputQuality and test requirements
  5. 05

    Negotiation, then engineering

    Negotiation lowered the unit price by 8.2% across the volume ladder, and a second round took a further 4.3%. Switching the carabiner from stainless steel to zinc-plated mild steel saved 25.8%.

    OutputNegotiated price ladder
  6. 06

    Tooling and lead time, locked in

    D-ring tooling amortises to about INR 2.2 a piece at 45,000 units. Lead time is 14 to 15 weeks for 45,000 kits.

    OutputTooling and lead-time plan
The engineering detail

The specification, line by line.

Textured ABS plaque

Size
152.4 × 152.4 × 3.0 mm
Material
ABS, Pantone-matched masterbatch
Texture
Four Mold-Tech zones
Tool
P20/H13, single cavity
Samples
T1 and T2, first-article inspection
Quality system
ISO 9001 min, IATF 16949 preferred
Volume
3,000 pcs a year

Cargo net kit

Sub-assemblies
Net panel, swivel carabiner, storage bag
Volume
30,000–45,000 kits a year, rising to 120,000
D-rings
500 lb minimum, SGS or NABL certificate
Inspection
AQL 2.5, golden sample
Testing
UV test data
Lead time
14–15 weeks for 45,000 kits
What changed

The results.

  • 8.2%

    Lower unit price

    Across the whole volume ladder, from the first negotiation round.

  • 4.3%

    Further reduction

    From a second negotiation round.

  • 25.8%

    Saved by engineering

    Carabiner switched from stainless steel to zinc-plated mild steel.

  • INR 2.2

    Tooling per D-ring

    Amortised at 45,000 units.

  • 3–7 days

    From RFQ to quotes

    First plaque quote in three days.

  • 14–15 wks

    Lead time

    For 45,000 kits.

What the client got

Deliverables, in hand.

  • 01Two RFQ packsDrawings, textures, materials, volumes and quality requirements.
  • 02Specialist shortlist per sub-assemblyMoulding, webbing, cargo fittings and die casting.
  • 03Quotes across the volume ladderFrom 30,000 to 120,000 kits a year.
  • 04Two negotiation rounds8.2% and then a further 4.3% off the unit price.
  • 05Engineering changeZinc-plated mild steel carabiner, 25.8% saving.
  • 06Tooling and lead-time planAmortisation and a 14 to 15 week lead time.
Services used

The services and tools behind this work.

ServiceProduct sourcingNamed factories, compared on landed cost.ServiceTooling registerEvery tool tagged, tracked and yours.ToolRFQ builderBuild a clean RFQ pack in minutes.ToolShould-cost modelKnow the fair price before you negotiate.AtlasCargo nets and webbing in IndiaClusters for webbing and straps.AtlasDie castings in IndiaAluminium and zinc die-casting clusters.
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