WO2011154773A1

WO2011154773A1 - Method and system for ordering sheet metal components

Info

Publication number: WO2011154773A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/052571
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Alan Halvorsen
Original assignee: Viaduct Sheet Metal Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-06-09
Filing date: 2010-06-09
Publication date: 2011-12-15

Abstract

Templates for custom sheet metal components are displayed on a remote customer terminal, via which the selection of a template for a desired component is received and transmitted via a network, such as the internet, to a processor. Further user inputs via the remote terminal are received by the processor to fully specify the dimensions and attributes of the desired component. A job file is created by the processor and transmitted via the network to a manufacturing system where one or more items required for the assembly of the component are automatically manufactured based on data in the job file. The processor may also calculate a cost for the manufacture of the component and display a price quotation on the user's remote terminal.

Description

Method and System for Ordering Sheet Metal Components

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter of the present invention is directed generally to the remote ordering of custom sheet metal components. More specifically, it relates to the remote creation of electronic files for controlling automated manufacturing equipment and the automatic generation of price quotations for the custom components.

Background

[0002] Sheet metal ducting is frequently used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Sheet metal component manufacturers generally fabricate and install a wide range of sheet metal ducting components including, but not limited to, straight sections, spiral ducting, elbows, angles, tees, end caps, flex sections, drop cheeks, radius offsets, boots, cross sections, reducers, goosenecks, transitions and other custom components. Components for order may be specified by three dimensional measurements and other attributes and may be chosen from a standard image library, based on modifications of components in a standard image library or may be completely customized. The number of attributes for each component is based on its design complexity and size, and there are often so many attributes to be specified even in the simpler components that it is often not feasible to stock or even define off-the-shelf components. In reality, there may be over a million possible variations of a single component. Furthermore, as the attributes of a component affect its cost, each job must be costed accurately in order to ensure competitiveness in the marketplace. Even identical components ordered at different times may have different costs due to the changing price of metal.

[0003] Large projects require highly skilled labour and meticulous attention to detail both in the field and in the office. Large projects often require additional or reconfigured components throughout the life of the project, which are usually ordered on paper with job order sheets.

[0004] In a typical, existing scenario, the specifications for both standard and custom orders are usually manually indicated by the customer, for example on a sketch that is faxed or emailed with notes to the manufacturer. On receipt at the factory, the job is scheduled for costing, for which the turnaround time depends on staff availability and workload. This can lead to frustration on the part of the customer and/or loss of business.

[0005] In a first manual step, the details of each component requested need to be costed in terms of materials, labour and purchased parts, which may involve the use of calculation spreadsheets or estimating software such as EST-Duct™ or QuickPen™. In some cases, modifications of existing components in stored component libraries may be used for assisting in the costing process.

[0006] Components may be sold by weight, by surface area or by a more detailed costing of the different types of materials used, the different amounts and rates of labour involved and the different types of process that may be involved.

[0007] Costing a component or a group of components can rapidly become very complex. For example, there may be over fifty different types of material, numerous different material gauges, different types and thicknesses of insulation, different component lengths, different diameters or cross sectional shapes, different access dimensions, different seam types, different connectors, different dimensional tolerances, etc.

[0008] After a job is costed and ordered by the customer, design staff at the factory use drafting software in a second manual step to create a three-dimensional formal drawing of the component. Again, pre-existing drawings may be modified to facilitate the process, but this would still result in the creation of a three-dimensional drawing..

[0009] From the drafting software, a job file is created that is transferred in a third manual step to the manufacturing system. The manufacturing system comprises a computer and one or more manufacturing machines connected to it. The computer in the manufacturing system converts the job file into control files for each specific machine in the manufacturing system. Such machines may be a plasma cutting machine for cutting metal sheeting, an insulation cutting machine for cutting the insulation for the components, and a label printing machine for printing labels for each part that is used in the component so as to track the various parts as they pass through the shop floor. The need for a formal drawing introduces further delays in the overall process.

[0010] In the existing process there is therefore some duplication of effort, as some of the same information needs to be entered for both costing a component as well as for creating the control files for manufacturing it.

[0011] Turnaround time between a customer identifying a need for a component and physically receiving it is currently limited by time consuming manual processes, including the time required to obtain a price and the time needed to program the manufacturing machines. Fluctuations in the number of orders per day and the number of components in each order result in unpredictability in the turnaround time. Time to market is a critical competitive advantage in the marketplace. It is important to generate orders and respond with an exact price quote as quickly as possible, in order to beat the competition to market.

Summary

[0012] This summary is not an extensive overview intended to delineate the scope of the subject matter that is described and claimed herein. The summary presents aspects of the subject matter in a simplified form to provide a basic understanding thereof, as a prelude to the detailed description that is presented below.

[0013] A web-based ordering system is employed to permit customers

inexperienced with the operation of manufacturing systems to remotely create custom job files in a format that may be transmitted to or imported directly into a manufacturing system. As the system is configured to be web-based, the customer does not need to install or use any special software but can make use of a browser on a desktop computer, a laptop, a netbook, a smart phone or any other suitable electronic device that can connect to the internet or a telephone network. Basic component templates are displayed on a customer's terminal, which allows the customer to select the required one(s) and then input or select further component attributes in order to more precisely define the component(s). From the customer's inputs, a job file is automatically created. The offsite creation of such job files provides increased efficiencies for internal manufacturing staff, by eliminating two or three of the three typically serial manual steps normally required for creating the job files. The components may also be costed and priced in real time by the web- based system. Alternately, components may be costed by manufacturing staff using existing estimating software that extracts the data from the remotely created job files. In both cases, the formal, three-dimensional, drafting stage is omitted and the turnaround time to manufacture is reduced. The system is suitable both for orders for replacement components and orders for new or custom components that have never been made before.

[0014] The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a computer implemented method for ordering custom sheet metal components comprising the steps of:

displaying, on a terminal remote from the computer, one or more sheet metal component templates; receiving, via the terminal, a first input that identifies a selected template from the one or more sheet metal component templates;

displaying, on the terminal, a prompt for inputting one or more attributes for the selected template; receiving, via the terminal, one or more second inputs that each represent a specified attribute for the selected template, wherein the selected template and specified attributes define a desired sheet metal component; creating, by the computer, a job file comprising computer-readable data representing the desired sheet metal component; and transmitting the job file to a manufacturing system remotely located from the terminal; wherein the manufacturing system comprises a further computer that can read the job file and at least one manufacturing machine that can automatically manufacture at least a part of the desired sheet metal component using data retrieved from the job file.

[0015] The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, perform the above method.

[0016] The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to a system for ordering custom sheet metal components comprising: a computer; a terminal remotely connected to the computer; and a manufacturing system remotely connected to the computer; the computer configured to: display, on the terminal, one or more sheet metal component templates; receive, via the terminal, a first input that identifies a selected template from the one or more sheet metal component templates; display, on the terminal, a prompt for inputting one or more attributes for the selected template; receive, via the terminal, one or more second inputs that each represent a specified attribute for the selected template, wherein the selected template and specified attributes define a desired sheet metal component; create a job file comprising computer-readable data representing the desired sheet metal component; and transmit the job file to the manufacturing system; wherein the manufacturing system comprises a further computer that can read the job file and at least one manufacturing machine that can automatically manufacture at least a part of the desired sheet metal component using data retrieved from the job file.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] For clarity, the drawings herein are not necessarily to scale, and have been provided as such in order to illustrate the principles of the subject matter, not to limit the invention.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary ordering system with remote entry terminal, a server with various data and computational modules and a

manufacturing system. [0019] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a process performed by an exemplary ordering system.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a partial screenshot of various component templates that a user may select.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a partial screen shot of user data entry boxes, a selection menu and a generically dimensioned component template.

Detailed Description

[0022] The detailed descriptions within are in part presented in terms of methods or processes, symbolic representations of operations, functionalities and features of the disclosed subject matter. These method descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A software implemented method or process is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Often, but not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It will be further appreciated that the line between hardware, software and firmware is not always sharp, it being understood by those skilled in the art that software implemented processes may be embodied in hardware, firmware, or software, in the form of coded instructions such as in microcode and/or in stored programming instructions.

[0023] In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 1 we see a an exemplary embodiment of a sheet metal ordering system according to the presently disclosed subject matter. The overall system comprises a remote terminal 10, a server 20 and a manufacturing system 30.

[0025] The remote terminal 10 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a smart phone or other electronic device capable of permitting its user to connect to the server 20 via communication links 1 1 and 13, which may be wireless and/or wired links. As typical for such devices, the remote terminal 10 comprises a processor, a user input interface and an output interface.

[0026] The remote terminal 10 is connected to the server 20 via a network 12, which may be the internet, a cellular telephone network, a land-based telephone network, a satellite telephone network or a combination of any of these. The server 20 is typically located geographically remote from the remote terminal 10.

[0027] The server 20 may be a computer that comprises one or more processors 22 operably connected to digital memory 24. Memory 24 contains a module of computer-readable instructions 26 that may be processed by the processor 22. These computer-readable instructions 26 when processed by the processor 22 serve to provide outputs to the remote terminal 10, accept inputs from the remote terminal 10, perform calculations based on the inputs via remote terminal 10, provide further outputs to the remote terminal 10 based on the calculations and transmit data to the manufacturing system 30.

[0028] The module 26 may be written using one or more of the common programming languages used for web applications. For example, ASP/.Net with a Microsoft SQL Server database; Java with Oracle/DB2; or PHP with

MySQL/Postgres may be used. Less common but equally valid options include Ruby on Rails, Perl, Cold Fusion and Perl.

[0029] The memory 24 also contains computer-readable data 27 that represents templates for sheet metal components. Optionally, memory 24 comprises further computer-readable data which may represent pricing 29 for sheet metal components. The pricing information 29 may be stored as a database, a look-up table, an algorithm or a combination of one or more of these. [0030] The memory 24 is also configured to store one or more job files 28 as computer-readable data. Such job files may be created from the inputs to the remote terminal 10 and data retrieved from the component templates 27. The processor 22 may process computer-readable instructions 26 in order to transmit the created job files 28 to the manufacturing system 30 via wired and/or wireless communication links 13 and 14.

[0031] The manufacturing system 30 comprises a computer 40, which in turn comprises a processor 42 connected to digital memory 44. In memory 44 there are computer-readable instructions 46 that when processed by the processor 42 cause it to accept transmissions of one or more electronic job files 28 from the server 20. The electronic job files 28 are then stored in memory 44 for later access by the processor 42.

[0032] The computer-readable instructions 46 when processed by the processor 42 may also serve to convert and divide the data in job file 28 into one or more control files 48 in formats suitable for controlling one or more manufacturing machines 32, 34, 26. Each machine may have specific requirements for the format of the control data that it needs. As these specific requirements may change as machines are upgraded, replaced or added, it is preferable, but not necessary, to convert the job file 28 into machine-specific format on site rather than at the server 20.

[0033] The manufacturing machines 32, 34, 36 may have a human operator to load them with raw material. For example, machine 32 may be a sheet metal cutting machine which needs to be loaded with a blank sheet of metal before it starts to operate. The operator may load the cutting machine 32 and then command it to start via the computer 40 or via a control panel on the machine. In either case, the job file has been automatically created and transmitted to the manufacturing system 30 without intervention on the part of the manufacturing staff. Furthermore, the control files may also be automatically created and made available to the cutting machine 32 and other manufacturing machines 34, 36 without human intervention, other than perhaps a machine operator selecting which file to use.

[0034] Some machines may be automatically fed with raw material. For example, one of the machines 34 may be a label printing machine with a ream of blank label sheets. If a job comprises a number of ducting components and each component comprises multiple parts, it is important to label each part in the job with part number, component number and job number so as not to get them mixed up as they pass through the shop floor. It is possible for the printing of labels to start automatically upon the label printing machine 34 receiving a control file from computer 40, which may occur within seconds of a customer committing to an order. In practice, it may be better to configure the computer 40 to transmit the control files to the machines in a coordinated manner.

[0035] Other machines may also be automatically fed with raw materials which are used for the manufacture of the ducting components, and may as a result require only minimum intervention from an operator.

[0036] A further terminal 15 connected via communication link 16 to the processor 22 in the server 20 may be used by the manufacturer for uploading updates to modules 26, 27 and 29 in the memory 24 of the server 20. Alternately, the manufacture may house the server 20 onsite, and may have direct access to it for making such updates. For example, the component template library 27 may be updated as and when further component templates are defined. The component templates in the component template libraries may depend on the manufacturing capabilities of the manufacturing system to which the ordering system is connected, and this may change from time to time.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a process that may be carried out by the system described above. When a user connects to the server 20 using a remote terminal 10, the processor 22 processes the computer readable instruction module 26 to display an introductory webpage, for example, on the terminal 10. The user may browse a website provided by the server 20, for example. The user may perform other commonly performed actions such as establishing an account or logging on to an existing account. Establishing an account may be done

automatically or may involve the automatic prompting a manufacturing staff member to provide approval of a new customer. The prompt may be via email, text messaging or automated phone call. After all preliminary requirements have been met, such as requiring the user to set up an account or requiring a log in, the module 26 accesses the component template library 27 and causes the terminal to display 60 of one or more component templates on an output interface of the remote terminal 10, such as a screen. Examples of component templates are shown in Fig. 3. For example, they may include a straight section 74, a goose neck 75, a radius offset 76 and a transition 77. Of course, there may be fewer or more than four component templates displayed. Such component templates allow the user to select an approximate shape for the component he would like to order. Already at this stage, the user does not need to provide a sketch. The displayed component templates are not necessarily to scale, as in general no dimensions will have been specified by the customer at this point.

[0038] After a component template has been selected, the processor 22 prompts the user at step 62 of Fig. 2, to enter dimensions and/or other attributes for the component by displaying entry boxes and/or selection fields on the display of the terminal 10. The user may further define the component using selectable option fields, radio buttons, pull-down menus or other standard web interface tools. For example, the length of a straight section may be selected or entered. The cross- sectional dimensions of the straight section may also be defined. The material may be defined, as well as the thickness of the material, whether there is any insulation to be added and if so what kind and what thickness. Whether or not there are end fittings, and if so what kind may also be defined. As can be seen there are many different attributes that can be defined, and more so with the more complex shapes. In order to make the system manageable, there may be a limit on the number of options that can be selected. There may also be a limit on the precision to which dimensions can be defined. For example, lengths may be limited to specifying them to the nearest inch. There may therefore be some sacrifice in terms of choice of dimension available to the customer, who may have previously been able to order components with lengths specified to the nearest half or quarter inch. However, the advantage of being able to order online, receive an immediate price quotation and a shorter turnaround time will in many cases outweigh the limitations of being restricted to order in predefined stepped dimensions.

[0039] An example screenshot of a pull down menu is shown in Fig. 4. On the left, various entry boxes 80 are shown, into which the user may enter data to specify the dimensions and other attributes of the selected component. An example of a pull down menu 82 is shown for the material attribute 81 . In the example shown, the user has selected 'Galvanized' material 83. On the right, two views 84, 85 are displayed of the selected component template. Shown on the component template views are symbols, for example "A" 87 representing dimensions of the various parts of the component that the user should enter to sufficiently define the desired component. In this case "A" represents the pipe diameter of the

component, and a corresponding label 88 indicates the entry box the user should complete. Note that the proportions of the component template displayed are not necessarily those desired or defined by the values entered in the entry boxes 80. However, there is enough detail displayed and there are enough user defined or user selected attributes to sufficiently specify the user's desired component.

[0040] When the user has entered the attributes of the component and, now referring back to Fig. 2, the processor has received 62 the component definition, there are at least two options depending on the configuration of the system.

[0041] The first and simpler option is for the processor to jump to step 70, in which the module 26 creates a job file 28 based on the received component definition. The job file 28 is in a format that the manufacturing system 30 can read. In order to do this, the processor performs steps dictated by instructions included in module 26, which may involve accessing specifications of the job file format 71 stored in memory 24 of the server 20. For example, the job file may be a plain text (.txt) file, but in other configurations, other file formats may be possible. From time to time, if the system is updated for example, then it may be easier to replace the job file specification 71 rather than the whole of module 26.

[0042] When the job file has been created, the processor 22 transmits 72 it to the manufacturing system 30. This option can be used, for example, where company staff are ordering components remotely, and have no need for receiving a price quotation. This option may also be used where a manufacturer desires to have the job files automatically created but prefers to quote jobs manually and/or provide the price quotation to the customer with a personal touch over the telephone. For manually provided quotations using this configuration, the company staff may use the job file as a starting point to provide the costing and subsequent quotation. Such a job file may be loaded directly into a cost estimating program, thus eliminating the steps of interpreting hand drawn sketches and entering the information manually into the estimating program.

[0043] The second option, after the processor 22 receives 62 the definition of the component, is to calculate 64 a price for the component. In order to calculate a price, the processor may access a price database 29. The price database may in theory include a price for each and every possible variant of each component that can be ordered, especially in cases where only a limited number variations are possible. More realistically, the price database may include rates such as price per pound, price per meter, price per unit of labour, oversize charges etc. The price database 29 may comprise a combination of a look-up table of prices and one or more pricing algorithms. Currency exchange rates may also be included. Prices quoted to the customer may be based on the cost of raw materials, labour, purchased components and overheads plus a profit margin, which may be automatically set according to how much a particular customer orders or has ordered in the past, or may be set by the manufacturer.

[0044] For example, the price may be calculated according to:

price = (Aw + Bn + Ch) x M where w is the weight of the metal, which can be calculated from the dimensions specified by the customer and the density of the metal, which can be stored in a look-up table; A is the price per unit weight of the metal; B is the purchased part(s) cost; n is the number of such purchased parts; h is the number of hours of labour required; C is the cost per hour for labour; and M is a multiplier representing a mark up. Alternately, a markup value may be added rather than using a multiplier. The calculation may require a sum over different materials, and so would comprise terms such as A^, A₂w₂, etc.. It may comprise different purchased parts and therefore include terms such as B^, B₂n₂, etc. Likewise, it may also comprise different labour rates and therefore include terms such as d h, C₂h₂, etc. To simplify the calculation, one of the constants A or C may be set to zero, and optionally B may be set to zero. In this case, the remaining, non-zero constant would be increased in order to compensate for not including the other contributions to the cost. The values A, B, C and M may be stored in the price data module 29, and the values w, n and h may be calculated or retrieved by the module 26 using data from the component template library 27 and inputs from the user.

[0045] The estimation of the hours of labour required for a component may complex. For example, the value of h for a component may be made according to:

h = p + qN + rT + sD

where p is a flat amount of time; q is the time for performing a given operation and N is the number of such operations; r is the time required for handling each part in the component and T is the number of parts; s is the additional time required for handling large components and D is a measure of the size of the component, such as the sum of its length, breadth and height. Dependencies of h on the terms in the equation may not be linear, but may be quadratic or according to a different power law, for example, h may be proportional to sD². As an alternate to using an equation, a look-up table may be used. For example, if the size of the component D is below a certain value, then s=0, but if it is above then s could have a non-zero value. Further, if the size D is above an even higher threshold, the value of s could be a higher value. The price calculation may calculate D from user inputs and the type of component selected, then look up a corresponding value for s in a look-up table.

[0046] When a price for a component has been calculated, the processor 22 causes the display 66 of the calculated price on an output interface of the remote terminal. The user can then decide whether to order the component, and if so, the processor 22 receives 68 a commitment from the user to place the order. After the commitment has been received, the job file is created 70 as previously described, and then sent 72 to the manufacturing system.

[0047] The user may order more than one different component, in which case the process may loop back as many times as needed from step 62 to 60 in order for the user to be able to select and define further components. Furthermore, the user may have the option of ordering more than one of each component defined. For example, the system may display the following table on the user's terminal just before the user commits to purchasing:

Table 1

[0048] As well as the above table, one or more views of component templates may also be shown in proximity to the corresponding component number or corresponding specification row. Sample Job Order

[0049] The following is an example of a text file that may be created by the processor 22 and transmitted to the manufacturing system 30. This example is for an order for two transition components. Other job file formats are of course possible, including extensible markup language formats and non-text formats.

JOB BEGIN HEADER BEGIN

CUSTOMER NAME BEGIN DAVID DUCTWORTH CUSTOMER NAME END CUSTOMER ADDRESS BEGIN

123 RIVER ROAD, BURNABY

CUSTOMER ADDRESS END HEADER END ITEM BEGIN

ITEM HEADER BEGIN

FILE X:/Shared/Libraries/Transition.itm

ITEM NUMBER 1

SPEC +2 WG

MATERIAL Galvanized

QUANTITY 2

INSULATION MATERIAL 1 " INS

INSULATION GAUGE 0.625

INSULATION SIDE INSIDE

ITEM HEADER END

DIMENSIONS BEGIN

36 24 28 18 18 6 0

DIMENSIONS END

CONNECTORS BEGIN

1 SSD S&D^**

18

CONNECTORS END SEAMS BEGIN BL

SEAMS END ITEM END JOB END

Further Embodiments

[0050] The system is configured so that multiple users may order sheet metal components using multiple remote terminals 10 each in different geographic locations.

[0051] It is also possible for multiple manufacturing systems 30 to be connected to the system. Each manufacturing system 30 may be in a different geographic location, and the server 20 may keep track of the job orders sent to each manufacturing location. In this way, workload can be spread around multiple manufacturing facilities in order to optimize delivery times and/or minimize transportation costs. Progress of manufacturing at each manufacturing facility may be fed back automatically to the server in order to provide more accurate work balancing and optimization.

[0052] In some embodiments it is possible to configure the server 20 to create the control file(s) 48 rather than just the job file 28. For example, the control files 48 could be transmitted to either the computer 40 in the manufacturing system 30 or they could be sent directly to the individual machines 32, 34, 36 in the

manufacturing system.

[0053] If a user wishes to order a component that cannot be defined by the system, then a notes field can be included in which the user writes a short text to explain what is required. The presence of information in the notes field can then prevent the automated provision of a quotation and flag the manufacturing personal to manually provide a quotation.

[0054] It is possible to add a quote notification field to the choices available to the customer. When ordering, the customer would choose how he would like to receive the quote, which could be by phone, fax, email or text message. This may change the ordering steps, but would provide a more flexible customer service option.

[0055] Order and customer information may be logged and used to create reports on online component sales. These reports may be made available to accounting systems, and/or forecasting systems for planning budgets, workload and the advance ordering of raw materials.

[0056] In the description herein, embodiments disclosing specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, and not to provide limitation thereof. However, it will be clear to one having skill in the art that other embodiments according to the present teachings are possible that are within the scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1 . A computer implemented method for ordering custom sheet metal

components comprising the steps of:

displaying, on a terminal remote from the computer, one or more sheet metal component templates;

receiving, via the terminal, a first input that identifies a selected template from the one or more sheet metal component templates;

displaying, on the terminal, a prompt for inputting one or more attributes for the selected template;

receiving, via the terminal, one or more second inputs that each represent a specified attribute for the selected template, wherein the selected template and specified attributes define a desired sheet metal component;

creating, by the computer, a job file comprising computer-readable data representing the desired sheet metal component; and

transmitting the job file to a manufacturing system remotely located from the terminal;

wherein the manufacturing system comprises a further computer that can read the job file and at least one manufacturing machine that can automatically manufacture at least a part of the desired sheet metal component using data retrieved from the job file.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the further computer is configured to: extract from the job file data specific to each of one or more manufacturing machines; and transmit data extracted from the job file to each corresponding manufacturing machine.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the further computer is configured to convert the data extracted from the job file into one or more formats specific for controlling each of the one or more manufacturing machines.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

calculating a price for manufacturing the desired sheet metal component based on the selected template, the specified attributes and one or more of a calculated weight of the desired sheet metal component and an estimated labour cost for manufacturing the desired sheet metal component;

displaying the price on the terminal; and

receiving via the terminal a third input representing a user's commitment to order the desired sheet metal component.

5. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-readable

instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising:

receiving, via the terminal, one or more second inputs that each represent a specified attribute for the selected template, wherein the selected template and specified attributes define a desired sheet metal component; creating a job file comprising computer-readable data representing the desired sheet metal component; and

6. One or more computer-readable media according to claim 5 wherein the further computer is configured to:

extract from the job file data specific to each of one or more manufacturing machines; and

transmit data extracted from the job file to each corresponding

manufacturing machine.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the further computer is configured to convert the data extracted from the job file into one or more formats specific for controlling each of the one or more manufacturing machines.

8. A method according to claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

displaying the price on the terminal; and

9 A system for ordering custom sheet metal components comprising: a computer; a terminal remotely connected to the computer; and a manufacturing system remotely connected to the computer; the computer configured to:

display, on the terminal, one or more sheet metal component templates; receive, via the terminal, a first input that identifies a selected template from the one or more sheet metal component templates;

display, on the terminal, a prompt for inputting one or more attributes for the selected template;

receive, via the terminal, one or more second inputs that each represent a specified attribute for the selected template, wherein the selected template and specified attributes define a desired sheet metal component;

create a job file comprising computer-readable data representing the desired sheet metal component; and

transmit the job file to the manufacturing system;

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the further computer is configured to: extract from the job file data specific to each of one or more manufacturing machines; and

transmit data extracted from the job file to each corresponding

manufacturing machine.

1 1 . A system according to claim 10 wherein the further computer is configured to convert the data extracted from the job file into one or more formats specific for controlling each of the one or more manufacturing machines.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the computer is further configured to: calculate a price for manufacturing the desired sheet metal component based on the selected template, the specified attributes and one or more of a calculated weight of the desired sheet metal component and an estimated labour cost for manufacturing the desired sheet metal component;

display the price on the terminal; and

receive via the terminal a third input representing a user's commitment to order the desired sheet metal component.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein the manufacturing system comprises a sheet metal cutting machine.

14. A system according to claim 9 wherein the manufacturing system comprises a label printing machine.

15. A system according to claim 9 wherein the manufacturing system comprises an insulation cutting machine.