ManufacturingQuote, Inc. - Tenant of the Month
 Mitch Free, President/CEO/Founder
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Barry Wolf: Mitch, what exactly is MfgQuote's business?
Mitch Free: MfgQuote matches buyers and engineers with suppliers of services such as machining, casting, molding, fabrication, tool making and a host of other manufacturing processes. Matches are made based on key attributes including process expertise, capacity, equipment and credentials. MfgQuote provides a secure online environment to facilitate the quoting process as well as collaboration, due diligence and analysis. We are helping product manufacturers lower costs by matching them with the right suppliers and we are helping suppliers be more profitable by matching them with the right work for their equipment, expertise and capacity.
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Barry Wolf: How did you get started in this business?
Mitch Free: My background is in manufacturing and engineering. I started my career as a machinist and continually sought positions of increased responsibility. Prior to starting my own business in 1998, I was with Northwest Airlines where I headed up aircraft acquisition and modernization projects. In 1998 I had the opportunity to start a business selling software and technology solutions to mechanical design and manufacturing companies. After careful consideration, I left my job at the airline and decided to test my entrepreneurial abilities and go for it.
The company did well and acquired customers at a rapid pace. As I visited my mechanical design customers they would often say "we have designed this widget, do you know any companies that can produce it?" and as visited my manufacturing customers they would often say "we are low on work, do you know of any companies that manufacturing services?" After visiting such a customer and driving down the road I heard a radio commercial for LendingTree.com and.... eureka!... the idea hit me. I decided to start an online service whereas industrial buyers and engineers would post their requirements and they would be automatically matched to a manufacturers with the right capability and capacity. MfgQuote (www.MfgQuote.com) was born... and took over. In mid-2000 Thomas Register, the world's leading industrial directory company for over 100 years purchased an equity stake in the company, forging a very strategic relationship for us both.
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Barry Wolf: How long have you been in business?
Mitch Free: 3 years.
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Barry Wolf: What makes MfgQuote unique in your business sector?
Mitch Free: In the Internet arena, still being in business is unique in and of itself. In spite of the burst of the dot-com bubble and the economic depression, MfgQuote has prospered and grown because we are adding value to the manufacturing process. We are helping product manufacturers lower costs by matching them with the right suppliers and we are helping suppliers be more profitable by matching them with the right work for their equipment, expertise and capacity. A strong value proposition coupled with our proprietary technology and strategic relationships with the traditional industry leaders allowed MfgQuote to quickly gain credibility and dominance in our sector. And it didn't hurt that all but one of our competitors did not survive the tough economy.
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Barry Wolf: What makes MfgQuote unique in your business sector?
Mitch Free: In the Internet arena, still being is business is unique in and of itself. In spite of the burst of the dot-com bubble and the economic depression, MfgQuote has prospered and grown because we are adding value to the manufacturing process. We are helping product manufacturers lower costs by matching them with the right suppliers and we are helping suppliers be more profitable by matching them with the right work for their equipment, expertise and capacity. A strong value proposition coupled with our proprietary technology and strategic relationships with the traditional industry leaders allowed MfgQuote to quickly gain credibility and dominance in our sector. And it didn't hurt that all but one of our competitors did not survive the tough economy.
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Barry Wolf: What are your long range goals at MfgQuote?
Mitch Free: We intend to leverage our technology and strategic relationships to broaden our market. In 2003 we will expand our system beyond custom manufacturing to allow buyers and engineers to source for standard industrial goods such as pumps, motors, valves, bearings, etc. Additionally, we are developing a service that will facilitate the souring and selling or commercial aircraft and jet engine components.