Interview with Devon Sowell, Author of SolidWorks PDM

Devon Sowell and I first met on the old comp.cad.solidworks usenet newsgroup several years ago. Devon is an independent contractor/consultant who does primarily machine design projects, and CAD implementation consulting. Devon has two blogs, one just for general SolidWorks topics, and the other for PDM topics. I believe his is one of very few blogs dedicated to PDM issues.

In some spare time, Devon has written and self-published a book titled SolidWorks PDM. Take a look at his site, you will be able to purchase the book directly from Devon.

In keeping with part of my new emphasis on CAD Administration, I thought that an interview with one of the PDM gurus would be in order, and Devon accepted. My questions are denoted with M: and Devon’s responses with D:.

M: Devon, could you tell us about your new book on File Management and your
new website PDM Solutions? What has interested you so much about this
field that you have taken on these projects?

D: Sure, first thanks for contacting me, I always enjoy talking to you. The check’s in the mail.

My 2009 SolidWorks PDM book is really a manual; Ring bound, 8.5×11, color. In the manual, I show detailed overviews of 2009 SolidWorks Explorer, 2009 SolidWorks WorkGroup PDM, and 2009 SolidWorks Enterprise PDM. Using screenshots and Tips & Hints, I show the default settings and the most common options and edits. Also, I include a matrix showing the differences between the applications. Three different sample PDM systems are shown, Manual, WorkGroup PDM, and Enterprise PDM. Finally, if you save up enough coupons on the back cover, you can get your ProE decoder ring.

M: What is the name for your new book?

D: I call it SolidWorks PDM (Product Data Management); “Managing” the CAD files from SolidWorks, and other CAD applications, and all the supporting document files such as Engineering Changes Orders, BOMs, Materials, Approved Suppliers, e-mails, Renderings, catalogs, mp3 files, Led Zeppelin songs…

M: What do you consider to be the most important tasks that a CAD Admin is responsible for?

D: Good question; I say there are two elements to CAD Admin today, specific management of the SolidWorks software application and the specific management of the CAD files and the supporting documents; PDM.

I like to focus on PDM. PDM is not just like watching paint dry, it’s more, much much more, like the sweet smell of a rose, or a beautiful sunrise. Also consider this, the FDA and ISO require specific “document controls” that must be adhered to, and validated. These processes must also be audited by an independent party.

M: How would someone go about becoming a PDM Administrator?

D: Contact me, I’ll train them. http://www.pdmsolution.com A shameless plug  ha!

Again, if PDM floats your boat, and you’re a SolidWorks User, start with SolidWorks Explorer and then investigate WorkGroup PDM, followed by Enterprise PDM and SmarTeam PLM. Agile PLM and SAP ERP are used in my area. Finally contact the NSA to view the largest data set in the world. Good luck with that one.

M: Is there one single area of responsibility where a good CAD Administrator can make the single most significant positive impact on a business?

D: Well, how about stopping SolidWorks users from detailing SolidWorks drawings in AutoCAD, ha!

A CAD or PDM Admin should focus on streamlining the design and documentation process. During the past 10 years, I’ve seen companies with poor productivity and companies with great, rapid productivity. It should be obvious which is preferred, unless you’re still using AutoCAD 13.

M: How is administering SolidWorks different from administering AutoCAD?

D: AutoCAD was first used by cavemen chipping stone tablets with flint points. SolidWorks was created by Jon Hirschtick in 2025, who then used it to design and build a 3D printer. He then printed out a time machine, from H.G. Well’s drawings, and traveled back to 1992 to create the SolidWorks Corp. we know today. Really, he told me while we played blackjack.

AutoCAD 2D files contain all their data in the single file (except for the weird “x-refs”, whatever they are). SolidWorks, of course, is 3D centric. It is very important to understand SolidWorks External References. Now “InContext External References”, they have a similar name, but they come from another planet, the same planet that Mork came from.

AutoCAD 3D files; their photons spin backwards, so they don’t work very well at all.

M: Why is File Management so important?

D: File management in my office is not important at all, just ask my wife. Drum roll, please.

Here are some questions I ask my customers:

Do your Engineers spend more time searching for files than they do editing the  files?

Do you have 5 CAD files called Front Cover, all in different folders, some on the  Network, some on Joe’s hard  drive, you know, the one that just crashed?

Do you “make” your Designers work off the Network? So, when they Save their work, they can go to Starbucks for a Latte?

Did the FDA Auditor come to your company and put Police Tape across the front  door?

Do you believe that everyone should use PDM software?

Yes, resistance is futile. The Borg use it, they use WorkGroup PDM, planning to migrate to Enterprise PDM this summer.

M: Do you have recommendations for independent contractors (such as
yourself, or me) when it comes to file management and PDM?

D: No, only you and me, that’s it, right? That’s what we talked about?

M: What is your favorite PDM software, and why?

D: Enterprise PDM, it does it all, really, everything. You just click once and that’s it. Then go home, you’re done. Just like this interview.

Devon, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on SolidWorks PDM. Best of luck to you with the new book, you’re going to have to show me how to do that self-publishing thing.