This is a great question, and one that more and more people are asking me. I'd answer the question "no" and "yes," respectively. CAD managers are not going to be an endangered species any time soon because there will always be a need for sharp people who can make technology work in a company-specific design environment. As long as you know the software, understand your company and can facilitate efficient use of CAD in your company, you'll be a valuable commodity!

Now, I do think the CAD manager position will change and grow to encompass more IT (information technology) functions, such as networking, remote work processes and outsourcing. Therefore, I recommend that CAD managers embrace a wider-ranging view of computer technology and obtain as much IT knowledge as possible. If you take this broader view of the job and combine it with good, old-fashioned productivity metrics, you'll have one of the most stable careers in the technology environment.