From RFQ to Delivery: What the Full Timeline Looks Like
From receiving your inquiry to a sample arriving at an overseas customer, the process typically takes 5–7 weeks. A phase-by-phase timeline plus acceleration options.
For first-time customers, the full delivery cycle typically lands between 5 and 7 weeks. Below we explain the key actions and time spent at each phase.
Day 1: RFQ Response
Our engineers complete drawing review and an initial quote within 24 hours. If anything in the process is unclear, we confirm by email or phone to avoid rework later.
Tip: an incomplete drawing delays the quote. Please provide a STEP file plus a critical dimensions table.
Days 2–5: Process Confirmation
The customer confirms the process plan and price, signs a simple purchase order (PO), and we schedule production.
Days 5–12: Raw Material Procurement
- Common materials (45# / 304 / 6061) are in stock with a 3–5 day lead time.
- Special materials (titanium alloys, Inconel superalloys) may take 7–12 days.
Days 12–25: Machining + Surface Treatment
- Sample parts can be finished in 10–15 days.
- Batch parts run at a 200–500 pieces / 3 weeks cadence.
- Surface treatment (anodizing, plating, powder coating) adds 3–7 days.
Days 25–30: Quality Inspection + Packaging
Three-stage inspection + factory test report + IPPC export packaging.
Days 30–45: Sea / Air Freight
| Method | Duration | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight (DHL/FedEx) | 3–5 working days | Worldwide |
| Sea freight (default) | 30 days | Major EU/US ports |
| Sea freight (Asia) | 12–18 days | Southeast Asia / Middle East |
Need it faster? Air freight compresses the total cycle to 15–20 days. We collect and pay the logistics cost on your behalf with full transparency.
Key Milestones
| Phase | Timing | Verifiable |
|---|---|---|
| Quote confirmed | Day 1–2 | Process plan email |
| Production scheduled | Day 5 | PO signed |
| Material arrived | Day 12 | Incoming photos |
| Machining complete | Day 25 | Process report |
| Shipment | Day 30 | Tracking number |
Acceleration Options
If your project is urgent, consider the following strategies:
- Parallel quoting: send the RFQ to 3–5 suppliers at once and pick the best response.
- Pre-purchase materials: we can stock small batches of common materials and save you 3–5 days.
- Air instead of sea: swapping sea for air saves about 25 days, but raises cost by 8–15%.
- Simplify the process: drop non-critical operations (e.g. precision grinding) to save 3–7 days.
Risk Hotspots
In real projects, the most common bottleneck is material procurement:
- Special materials (titanium, superalloys) take longer to stock.
- Surface treatment capacity queues (plating peaks require 7–10 day waits).
- Sea freight seasonal delays (before Christmas / before Chinese New Year).
We recommend specifying core material stocking and surface treatment capacity in your contract, plus an over-run compensation clause.
How to Track an Order?
Send an email to vivian@botrusttech.com or owen@botrusttech.com with your order number. We reply within 4 hours with the current stage and expected completion time.
Send your drawing today, get a quote tomorrow. Bookmark this article so the next RFQ feels familiar.