Predictika · Custom cable assembly quotes

An AI sales agent's custom cable assembly quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a configure-to-order quote for a custom cable assembly: connector family, circuits, wire gauge and insulation, current and temperature, length, far-end termination, quantity, volume band, discount and need-by date. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility, order-quantity and lead-time rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: custom cable assembly quotes: connector family, wire, length, termination, minimum order quantity, volume bands and lead time. See everything this validator covers

This validator models configure-to-order quotes for custom cable assemblies built from crimp-style wire-to-board connector families — not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Connector families — circuit counts offered for each family, and whether a dual-row family needs an even number of circuits.
  • Wire — which wire gauges each family accepts, the temperature rating of the insulation, and whether a shielded cable is offered.
  • Load — current per circuit against the family rating, with an approval when the load is within 10 percent of it.
  • Length and termination — the cable lengths offered for each family and whether the far-end connector can mate with the near-end family.
  • Order quantity and volume bands — minimum order quantity per family, the volume band a quantity falls in, the discount allowed without approval, and the band the quote itself states.
  • Lead time — standard lead time from family, insulation, shielding and run size, the lead time the quote states, and expedite approvals.

Any custom cable assembly quote that touches connector, wire, length, termination, quantity, band or lead-time rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (no public price list for custom assemblies was found, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), crimp-tool and terminal part numbers, regulatory approvals, and any vendor CPQ platform. Assumptions: only the Micro-Fit 3.0 and Mini-Fit Jr. pitch and wire ranges follow public distributor pages; every other family, minimum order quantity, volume band, discount limit, lead time and temperature rating is an invented illustrative value.

The AI sales agentBuilds the cable assembly quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed band, discount limit and lead time.

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
Wire gauge, insulation, shielding and length limits that depend on the connector familyOnly with care
Each family-and-option pair is its own product or constraint rule. It works, but every new family adds rules that someone must keep in step.		The limits sit on the family and wire records, so a new family is a new row, not a new rule.
A far-end connector that cannot mate with the near-end familyOnly with care
A compatibility rule per family pair is doable, but the pair table grows quickly and is easy to leave incomplete.		Compatibility comes from the pitch recorded on each family.
A quote that states a volume band or lead time different from what the quantity and options implyOnly with workarounds
The stated figures rarely exist as fields on the quote, so a validation rule has nothing to compare against.		The stated figures travel with the quote and are compared with the computed band and lead time on every call.
Lead time that depends on family, insulation, shielding and run size, plus expedite approvalsOnly with workarounds
Lead time is usually a lookup that is separate from the options, so an expedite check needs extra formulas and a manual approval step.		Lead time is computed from the options on every call and compared with the need-by date; a small gap goes to approval, a large one is blocked.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, 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.

    
114 AWG wire does not fit Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch); it accepts 16 AWG (thickest) to 28 AWG (thinnest).
2a quantity of 10 is below the minimum order quantity of 25 for Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch).
326 circuits is outside the 2 to 24 circuits offered for Micro-Fit 3.0 (3.00 mm pitch).
4Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch) is a dual-row family and needs an even number of circuits; 11 was requested.
5a load of 91 (tenths of an amp per circuit) is above the rating of 90 for Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch).
6a load of 90 (tenths of an amp per circuit) is within 10 percent of the rating of 90; confirm the derating with the customer.
7an operating temperature of 125 C is above the 105 C rating of XLPE insulated wire.
8a shielded cable is not offered with KK 254 (2.54 mm pitch).
9a cable length of 40 mm is outside the 50 to 3000 mm offered for Micro-Fit 3.0 (3.00 mm pitch).
10a PicoBlade far-end connector cannot be paired with Micro-Fit 3.0 (3.00 mm pitch); connector families with different pitches do not mate.
11a discount of 20 percent is more than 5 points above the 5 percent allowed for this volume band.
12a discount of 8 percent is above the 5 percent allowed for this volume band; it needs sales management approval.
13a need-by of 7 days is sooner than the 10 day standard lead time; production must confirm an expedite.
14a need-by of 4 days is more than 5 days sooner than the 10 day standard lead time.
15the quote states volume price band 3, but a quantity of 150 is band 2.
16the quote states a lead time of 7 days, but the standard lead time is 10 days.

  

  

    
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. Connector and wire fit: Wire too thick and order below the minimum quantity

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 12 circuits of Mini-Fit Jr. on PVC insulated 14 AWG wire, 400 mm long, 10 pieces, carrying 3.0 A per circuit at 60 C, with the same connector family at the far end. The customer needs it in 60 days. The quote states volume band 1 and a lead time of 12 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Wire gauge not accepted. 14 AWG wire does not fit Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch); it accepts 16 AWG (thickest) to 28 AWG (thinnest).
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  • Below minimum order quantity. A quantity of 10 is below the minimum order quantity of 25 for Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch).
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2. Connector and wire fit: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 12 circuits of Mini-Fit Jr. on PVC insulated 16 AWG wire, 400 mm long, 200 pieces, carrying 3.0 A per circuit at 60 C, with the same connector family at the far end. The customer needs it in 60 days. The quote states volume band 2 and a lead time of 12 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Computed band and lead time. Volume price band 2 (up to 5 percent discount without approval), standard lead time 12 days, minimum order quantity 25 for Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch) with PVC insulated wire.
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3. Termination and insulation: Far-end connector cannot mate; operating temperature above the wire rating

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 10 circuits of Micro-Fit 3.0 on XLPE insulated 22 AWG wire, 600 mm long, 300 pieces, carrying 5.0 A per circuit at 125 C, shielded, with a PicoBlade connector at the far end. The customer needs it in 60 days. The quote states volume band 2 and a lead time of 18 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Insulation temperature rating exceeded. An operating temperature of 125 C is above the 105 C rating of XLPE insulated wire.
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  • Far-end connector cannot mate. A PicoBlade far-end connector cannot be paired with Micro-Fit 3.0 (3.00 mm pitch); connector families with different pitches do not mate.
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4. Termination and insulation: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 10 circuits of Micro-Fit 3.0 on FEP insulated 22 AWG wire, 600 mm long, 300 pieces, carrying 5.0 A per circuit at 125 C, shielded, with a Micro-Fit 3.0 connector at the far end. The customer needs it in 60 days. The quote states volume band 2 and a lead time of 22 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Computed band and lead time. Volume price band 2 (up to 5 percent discount without approval), standard lead time 22 days, minimum order quantity 25 for Micro-Fit 3.0 (3.00 mm pitch) with FEP insulated wire.
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5. Volume band and lead time: Discount, need-by date and stated band all off

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 8 circuits of KK 254 on PVC insulated 24 AWG wire, 250 mm long, 150 pieces, carrying 1.0 A per circuit at 60 C, with the same connector family at the far end, and a volume discount of 20 percent. The customer needs it in 4 days. The quote states volume band 3 and a lead time of 10 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Discount above the band limit. A discount of 20 percent is more than 5 points above the 5 percent allowed for this volume band.
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  • Need-by date too early. A need-by of 4 days is more than 5 days sooner than the 10 day standard lead time.
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  • Stated volume band does not match. The quote states volume price band 3, but a quantity of 150 is band 2.
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6. Volume band and lead time: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 8 circuits of KK 254 on PVC insulated 24 AWG wire, 250 mm long, 150 pieces, carrying 1.0 A per circuit at 60 C, with the same connector family at the far end, and a volume discount of 8 percent. The customer needs it in 7 days. The quote states volume band 2 and a lead time of 10 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Discount needs approval. A discount of 8 percent is above the 5 percent allowed for this volume band; it needs sales management approval.
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  • Need-by date needs approval. A need-by of 7 days is sooner than the 10 day standard lead time; production must confirm an expedite.
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  • Computed band and lead time. Volume price band 2 (up to 5 percent discount without approval), standard lead time 10 days, minimum order quantity 50 for KK 254 (2.54 mm pitch) with PVC insulated wire.
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7. Volume band and lead time: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 8 circuits of KK 254 on PVC insulated 24 AWG wire, 250 mm long, 150 pieces, carrying 1.0 A per circuit at 60 C, with the same connector family at the far end, and a volume discount of 5 percent. The customer needs it in 15 days. The quote states volume band 2 and a lead time of 10 days. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Computed band and lead time. Volume price band 2 (up to 5 percent discount without approval), standard lead time 10 days, minimum order quantity 50 for KK 254 (2.54 mm pitch) with PVC insulated wire.
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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 configure-to-order quote for a custom cable assembly: connector family, circuits, wire gauge and insulation, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility, order-quantity and lead-time rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a custom cable assembly for Larchwood Controls: 12 circuits of Mini-Fit Jr. on PVC insulated 14 AWG wire. The customer needs it in 60 days. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. 14 AWG wire does not fit Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch); it accepts 16 AWG (thickest) to 28 AWG (thinnest). A quantity of 10 is below the minimum order quantity of 25 for Mini-Fit Jr. (4.20 mm pitch).
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  6. The validator returned two 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 wire gauge, insulation, shielding and length limits that depend on the connector family, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the wire gauge to 16 AWG, the quantity to 200 and the stated volume band to 2.
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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. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Two 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.