Predictika · Thermal test system quotes

An AI sales agent's thermal test system quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for a temperature test system: the product family, test temperature range, cooling method, facility supplies and lead time. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product line and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Thermal test system quotes in the style of inTEST Environmental Technologies: ThermoStream, MobileTemp, thermal chambers and thermal platforms. See everything this validator covers

This validator models thermal test system quotes built from the product families inTEST Corporation lists in its annual report, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Products and ranges — ThermoStream air systems (-100 to +300 C, +/-0.1 C control), MobileTemp systems (a ThermoStream with a ThermoChamber), thermal chambers (-190 to +500 C, liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide or mechanical refrigeration cooling) and thermal platforms (7.2 to 616 square inches, -100 to +250 C).
  • Cooling and facilities — chambers and platforms need a cooling method; refrigeration reaches about -70 C and liquid carbon dioxide about -75 C, below that liquid nitrogen is needed; cryogen cooling needs the customer's cryogen supply and ThermoStream systems need a dry air supply confirmed; MobileTemp loads are limited to 10 kg.
  • Lead time and approvals — the standard lead time is computed from the product, cooling method and quantity and compared with the figure the quote states and the customer's need date; a shorter need date, a chamber over 100 cubic feet and a chamber range near the ends go to a person. The ranges above come from inTEST's annual report; every other limit and lead time is typical for thermal test equipment, not published by inTEST.

Any thermal test system quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), specific model numbers, Thermonics process chillers, ultra-cold storage, induction heating, test handling and other inTEST products. inTEST has not published, approved or used these rules; all customers and orders are fictional.

The AI sales agentBuilds the thermal test quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Temperature limits that differ by product familyOnly with care
Each family has its own range, so a rule per family and per end of the range; the range check also depends on the cooling method chosen on another line.		The product, range and cooling method are in one request and every limit is checked together.
Cooling methods that fit only some products and rangesOnly with workarounds
Refrigeration, liquid carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen each reach a different low temperature and apply only to chambers and platforms; these cross-line conditions interact.		Product, cooling and low temperature are checked together, whatever order the choices arrive in.
Facility supplies the customer must confirmOnly with care
A dependency from a cooling or product choice to a facility line; a rule can enforce it, but each one is another rule to keep in step.		The facility lines travel with the quote and the dependencies are checked with everything else.
Lead time that must match the buildOnly with workarounds
The standard lead time adds up the product, cooling and quantity; a stated lead time is a free-entry field, so the sum and the comparison need their own maintained logic.		The lead time is computed on every call and compared with the figure the quote states and with the need date.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as a step is saved, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The quote has 0 units; it needs at least one.
2The low test temperature of 130 C is not below the high test temperature of 125 C.
3ThermoStream air systems cover -100 C to +300 C; the quote asks for -110 C to 125 C.
4ThermoStream air systems cover -100 C to +300 C; the quote asks for -55 C to 320 C.
5Thermal chambers cover -190 C to +500 C; the quote asks for -200 C to 200 C.
6A chamber range of -200 C to 200 C is near the ends of the chamber range; engineering reviews the design.
7A chamber range of -190 C to 200 C is near the ends of the chamber range; engineering reviews the design.
8Thermal chambers cover -190 C to +500 C; the quote asks for -100 C to 520 C.
9A chamber range of -100 C to 520 C is near the ends of the chamber range; engineering reviews the design.
10Thermal platforms cover -100 C to +250 C; the quote asks for -120 C to 150 C.
11Thermal platforms cover -100 C to +250 C; the quote asks for -40 C to 270 C.
12Thermal platform surfaces run from 7.2 to 616 square inches (quoted in whole square inches); the quote has 5.
13Thermal platform surfaces run from 7.2 to 616 square inches (quoted in whole square inches); the quote has 700.
14A thermal chamber or platform needs a cooling method: mechanical refrigeration, liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.
15ThermoStream and MobileTemp systems cool with their built-in refrigeration; a liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide or refrigeration option does not apply.
16Mechanical refrigeration reaches about -70 C; the quote asks for -80 C, which needs liquid nitrogen.
17Liquid carbon dioxide cooling reaches about -75 C; the quote asks for -85 C, which needs liquid nitrogen.
18Liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide cooling need a cryogen supply line confirmed on the quote.
19ThermoStream and MobileTemp systems need a dry air supply confirmed on the quote.
20ThermoStream systems hold +/-0.1 C; the quote asks for +/-0 tenths of a degree.
21MobileTemp systems are for small thermal-mass loads, up to 10 kg; the quote has 11 kg.
22The quote states a lead time of 12 weeks, but the system on it gives 6 weeks.
23The quote states a lead time of 2 weeks, but the system on it gives 6 weeks.
24The customer needs the system in 10 weeks but the standard lead time is 14 weeks; expedited build needs plant scheduling approval.
25A chamber of 150 cubic feet is beyond the standard sizes; engineering reviews the design.
26A chamber range of -170 C to 200 C is near the ends of the chamber range; engineering reviews the design.
27Thermal platforms cover -100 C to +250 C; the quote asks for -40 C to 300 C.
28The quote states a lead time of 5 weeks, but the system on it gives 10 weeks.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Device test cell: A ThermoStream order down to -120 C with no dry air confirmed

    
The agent's request. Please quote 2 x ThermoStream air systems for -120 C to 125 C, stability +/-0.1 C. The customer needs the system in 12 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 6 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Range outside ThermoStream capability. ThermoStream air systems cover -100 C to +300 C; the quote asks for -120 C to 125 C.
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  • Dry air supply not confirmed. ThermoStream and MobileTemp systems need a dry air supply confirmed on the quote.
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2. Device test cell: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 2 x ThermoStream air systems for -90 C to 125 C, stability +/-0.1 C, with the customer's dry air supply confirmed. The customer needs the system in 12 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 6 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 2 unit(s), standard lead time 6 weeks; the customer needs the system in 12 weeks.
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3. Thermal chamber: A chamber order down to -120 C with liquid carbon dioxide cooling

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 x thermal chamber for -120 C to 200 C, 40 cubic feet with liquid carbon dioxide cooling, with the customer's cryogen supply confirmed. The customer needs the system in 14 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 14 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Liquid CO2 too warm for the range. Liquid carbon dioxide cooling reaches about -75 C; the quote asks for -120 C, which needs liquid nitrogen.
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4. Thermal chamber: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 x thermal chamber for -120 C to 200 C, 40 cubic feet with liquid nitrogen cooling, with the customer's cryogen supply confirmed. The customer needs the system in 12 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 14 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Needed sooner than the standard lead time. The customer needs the system in 12 weeks but the standard lead time is 14 weeks; expedited build needs plant scheduling approval.
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  • Order summary. 1 unit(s), standard lead time 14 weeks; the customer needs the system in 12 weeks.
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5. Thermal chamber: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 x thermal chamber for -120 C to 200 C, 40 cubic feet with liquid nitrogen cooling, with the customer's cryogen supply confirmed. The customer needs the system in 16 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 14 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 1 unit(s), standard lead time 14 weeks; the customer needs the system in 16 weeks.
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6. Thermal platform: A platform order of 700 square inches to 270 C with no cooling method and a wrong lead time

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 x thermal platform for -40 C to 270 C, 700 square inch surface. The customer needs the system in 14 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 6 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Range outside platform capability. Thermal platforms cover -100 C to +250 C; the quote asks for -40 C to 270 C.
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  • Platform surface outside the range. Thermal platform surfaces run from 7.2 to 616 square inches (quoted in whole square inches); the quote has 700.
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  • Chamber or platform without a cooling method. A thermal chamber or platform needs a cooling method: mechanical refrigeration, liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.
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  • Stated lead time differs from the quote. The quote states a lead time of 6 weeks, but the system on it gives 8 weeks.
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7. Thermal platform: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 x thermal platform for -40 C to 200 C, 400 square inch surface with mechanical refrigeration. The customer needs the system in 14 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 11 weeks. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 1 unit(s), standard lead time 11 weeks; the customer needs the system in 14 weeks.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a quote for a temperature test system: the product family, test temperature range, cooling method, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product line and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote 1 x thermal platform for -40 C to 270 C, 700 square inch surface. The customer needs the system in 14 weeks and the quote states a standard lead time of 6 weeks. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. Thermal platforms cover -100 C to +250 C; the quote asks for -40 C to 270 C. Thermal platform surfaces run from 7.2 to 616 square inches (quoted in whole square inches); the quote has 700. A thermal chamber or platform needs a cooling method: mechanical refrigeration, liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for cooling methods that fit only some products and ranges, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the high test temperature to 200 C, the surface to 400 square inches, the cooling to mechanical refrigeration and the stated standard lead time to 11 weeks.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. All four earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.