Everything Your Boss Needs to Know About CAD
Sometimes we get lucky, and we get a boss who already knows at least a little bit about CAD and engineering technology in general. And sometimes we don’t. Maybe you can secretly slip a link to this article into your boss’s morning reading. There are several things the boss needs to know about CAD, CAD users, PLMish things and engineering technology in general.
What does CAD do for your business?
To appreciate CAD, you have to know what it does for your business. When we say “CAD” (computer aided design) we might mean any number of software tools related to designing, documenting, testing, managing, procuring, manufacturing, inspecting, marketing, communicating about and servicing products. People might use acronyms like CADCAM, PDM, PLM, FEA, CNC, CMM and many others.
CAD/PLM people encompass product managers, engineers, designers, drafters, technicians, specialists and to some extent purchasing, procurement and quality people. Anyone who creates, uses or touches design information is part of the team and should be in the loop about decisions effecting CAD/PLM systems.
You really need to have someone other than an engineering manager or an adjunct from IT in charge of this process and the technology (mainly software) that makes it happen. The software doesn’t manage itself. IT doesn’t generally have the kind of ownership or understanding needed to create the urgency about why it’s important to manage these things correctly. Depending on the size of your operation, this may need to be someone dedicated to the maintenance of the systems as well as training and support of the users.
In addition to software, this may include hardware such as workstations, networks, storage and backup, large format plotters, 3D printers, 3D scanners, machine shop equipment and quality inspection gear. There is a lot of stuff to keep track of, which is why you shouldn’t try to assign someone part time or someone who doesn’t really understand it all to manage it. A proper CAD Admin needs to be someone with a lot of CAD technology experience, and maybe a little people management skills.
What does CAD need from you as leader?
CAD and more generally PLM are like the engine that makes your company go. You may think it’s the sales people, but the sales people get all of their products to sell and product knowledge from engineering. So it’s really the engineers all along.
CAD is really a position that relies almost equally on engineering and IT, but it’s not like a word processor. It requires:
- Understanding management
- Qualified and experienced employees
- Specialized computers
- Specialized peripherals (space mouse, multi-monitor setup)
- Specialized training
- Real technical support
- Internal best practices and standards development
- An internal champion/CAD Admin
- Software that does what they need it to do
So get the sales guys off the golf course and buy the engineers stuff they really need to make your company go.
What do they really need?
I’ve seen a lot of companies try to low-ball the engineering department because it’s a lot of money, and it doesn’t look as good as a new Rivian for the CEO.
- Professional software (no, not Sketchup)
- Real training. Reseller training is basic and generic and severely overpriced. You might have to hire a specialist consultant to train or help develop internal processes for your company’s products.
- Definitely a file management system, probably something with workflow management
- Analysis and simulation software (virtual test before you build)
- Prototyping equipment (3D print, development machine shop)
- A real network with servers dedicated to engineering data storage
- Someone in charge of all the technology
Most Important Thing to Know
When you go into the CAD area, please don’t just flick the lights on. They are off on purpose. You don’t have to whisper, but please don’t turn the lights on.