Case StudySheet Metal Fabrication
Sheet Metal: Accelerating order approval workflows
A sheet-metal manufacturer cut approval lag by standardizing exception routing and SLA-based escalation.
2 Apr 20261 min readBy AICAN Customer Team
Sheet Metal Fabrication | Approval bottlenecks slowed conversion and production starts
A sheet-metal manufacturer cut approval lag by standardizing exception routing and SLA-based escalation.
The Reality
- Commercial and technical approvals moved through email chains.
- No shared SLA visibility for pending approvals.
- High-value orders stalled without escalation ownership.
The Cost
- Delayed order confirmation and customer dissatisfaction.
- Planning uncertainty from pending approvals.
- Lost momentum in high-probability deal windows.
The Fix
Digitize
- Implemented rule-based approval paths by deal profile.
- Added centralized pending queue with owner and due time.
- Connected approval state to downstream production release.
Optimize
- Prioritized approvals by value and dispatch impact.
- Reduced approval cycle variance with SLA tracking.
- Improved accountability via role-based exception dashboards.
Scale
- Automated escalation for overdue approvals.
- Added AI recommendations for repetitive approval patterns.
- Standardized model across all sales teams and plants.
The Result
Before: Approvals were opaque and often delayed.
After: Approval flow became measurable, faster, and easier to govern.
Digitize what you have. Optimize what you can see. Scale what you have earned.