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Wire harness manufacturers responding to a new Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA) survey say waiting for information, not preparing estimates, is a leading reason customer quotes take longer.
The 2026 Wire Harness Industry Survey, conducted by the WHMA Innovation Advisory Team (IAT), points to a practical opportunity to improve the process. The team recommends developing and testing a shared checklist of the information customers should provide when requesting a quote.
What’s slowing quotes?
- Incomplete information. Seventy percent of respondents say poor or incomplete customer information limits their quoting process.
- Waiting for answers. Seventy percent cite delays obtaining supplier prices and delivery estimates; 61% cite waiting for customer clarification. Just 17% cite estimating or engineering work.
- Missing details. Common gaps include manufacturer part numbers (70%), missing or unidentified parts (61%), and customer specifications or workmanship requirements (39%).
More than half of respondents (57%) say quotes take six or more business days to turn around. The most common estimate of actual hands-on work, however, is three to five hours per assembly.
The survey includes 23 respondents, so its findings offer a snapshot rather than a representative view of the entire industry.
“As a manufacturer, we see this every week,” said George Jacob, managing director of E-Tron Systems and IAT co-chair. “The estimating work itself is rarely what holds up a quote. It's the missing part number, the unanswered question, or the supplier price that hasn't come back yet. Those are problems the whole industry can solve together.”
A checklist could help
Seventy-four percent of respondents rate a standard checklist for quote requests as very or extremely useful. Sixty-five percent would use it to review incoming requests, and 57% would share it with or request it from customers.
“The industry already knows which information is missing from most RFQs,” said David Bergman, executive director of WHMA. “A common standard gives manufacturers and their customers a shared starting point, and that benefits everyone in the supply chain.”
Technology is only part of the answer
Seventy-eight percent of respondents are using, testing, or evaluating AI or automation in at least one area. But faster tools still need complete information.
“Manufacturers are investing in tools that read customer data faster,” said Arik Vrobel, founder and CEO of Cableteque and IAT co-chair. “The bigger opportunity is making sure the right data arrives in the first place and catching what's missing the moment an RFQ is opened.”
The IAT recommends:
- Developing a shared checklist covering parts lists, approved components, customer requirements, and document versions.
- Testing it with manufacturers and customers to see whether it reduces follow-up questions.
- Creating practical resources to help companies improve quoting and use AI effectively.
- Expanding the survey to gather more industry input and track progress.
