How to cost a fabrication job properly
Most small fabricators know roughly what a job costs, but “roughly” hides the jobs that lose money every time. The fix is to capture actual costs against each job as they happen, then compare them with the quote.
- Material: what was actually used, including offcuts written off, with the cert or heat number so it’s traceable too.
- Labour: hours at each work centre, multiplied by that centre’s rate. Welding and cutting rarely cost the same per hour.
- Overhead: added as a percentage of labour, so rent, power and consumables aren’t forgotten.
- Subcontract: galvanising, powder coating, laser cutting and anything else bought in.
What to do with the results
After a dozen jobs, patterns appear: a type of work that always overruns on welding, a customer whose jobs never make margin, a finish that costs more than you allow. That’s the information that makes your next quote right.
When the spreadsheet stops being enough
Mannin Systems does all of this as part of the day’s work: booked at the station as it happens, checked automatically, and linked to the jobs, stock and people involved. No retyping, and no Friday afternoon catching up.
