Systems for Steel Fabricators
Steel fabricators generate revenue by transforming raw materials into precision-engineered components and structural assemblies. Profit often leaks during the transition from the initial shop drawing approval to the production floor and through uncollected change order fees.
Construction & Trades
Also for: Metal Fabricators
How the business actually works
Takeoff
Receiving architectural drawings and calculating material requirements for the initial bid.
Estimation
Sending formal proposals for structural steel, miscellaneous metals, or ornamental ironwork.
Detailing
Managing the submittal process and securing engineer approval for shop drawings.
Production
Tracking the workflow through cutting, welding, grinding, and finishing stages.
QC Inspection
Documenting weld certifications and dimensional accuracy before the product leaves the shop.
Logistics
Coordinating flatbed delivery or crane services for onsite installation.
Erection
Completing the field assembly and capturing the final punch list sign-off.
Where it leaks
Production schedules often collapse when shop drawings sit in a GC or architect inbox without approval. Automated follow-ups ensure detailing stays on track so materials can be ordered on time.
Field modifications or design revisions often go unbilled because the paperwork is missing. Capturing site photos and digital signatures immediately prevents the shop from eating these labor costs.
Large commercial bids take time to compile and often go cold without a structured response sequence. Keeping the estimator organized ensures the shop pipeline remains full across all quarters.
Critical specs like finish requirements or hole patterns can be lost in long email threads. A central portal keeps the latest revisions accessible to the foreman and the client.
Project managers are often in the field and miss calls from GCs needing immediate structural answers. Automated text responses ensure every RFI or scheduling update is captured and logged.
What LATTICE can build
Automatically reminds architects and engineers to review shop drawings to keep the production start date firm.
Allows field crews to send instant SMS links for clients to approve extra welds or material adjustments on site.
Handles incoming calls during shop hours to route technical questions or scheduling needs to the right project manager.
Captures and stores photos of galvanized or powder-coated finishes before shipping to prove quality at the time of transit.
Provides GCs with a secure location to view fabrication status, delivery schedules, and signed load tickets.
Sequentially contacts general contractors after a bid is sent to check for project award status or design changes.
Triggers a final walkthrough checklist and digital sign-off once the steel is set and plumb.
Example systems
Tell us what's slowing the business down. LATTICE can build around the way your business operates.
The system is designed to store and track the documents associated with your bids, such as tonnage, linear footage, and specific finish specs. While it does not replace your detailing software, it ensures the communication surrounding those technical details is never lost.
By using a centralized portal, both your shop foreman and your field installers can access the same set of approved drawings and change orders. This eliminates the risk of the field crew working off an outdated revision.
No, this system acts as your internal record and client-facing professional interface. It helps you organize your own data so that when you interact with a GC's portal, you have all your signed documents and photos ready.
Yes, you can create automated notifications that alert GCs when a load is leaving the shop. This ensures they have the crane and crew ready for offloading, reducing your standby time.
The system uses automated sequences to keep the client engaged during the long weeks of fabrication. Regular updates on production milestones help build trust and prevent the client from feeling ignored while you work in the shop.