February 23, 2022

Issue # 485

Back-to-Basics Boot Camp:
CAD Standards 

Develop CAD standards to solve problems, prevent errors, and boost productivity. 

Standards are an essential endeavor for CAD managers and probably always will be. After all, if your goal is to get everyone working consistently and efficiently, what better way than to implement great standards? And, if you happen to be a novice CAD manager, don’t worry! Believe me when I say that even veteran CAD managers still struggle with standards.

In this edition of the CAD Manager’s Newsletter, we will continue our Back-to-Basics Boot Camp series with an outline of how to approach your standards program methodically in hopes of getting your whole CAD staff following them. Here goes.

Image source: WrightStudio/stock.adobe.com.

Prioritize and Organize

Before you work on any standards, take the time to get them in the right order, so you work on the most important standards first. So, which standards are most important?

The standards that can best help your users solve problems, prevent errors, and boost productivity.

So, if you are having lots of problems with plotting and file management, but very few problems with correct design standards, you should focus on plotting and file management standards as your first task and put everything else off until later. I know it’s tempting to work on all problems concurrently, but sometimes you have to make a business-focused decision and work on a limited number of problems at the beginning to make the most effective change. So, think through the problems you have and how your standards can help you deal with them and get going.

Create your standards list, prioritize them accordingly, then work on them in order.

Create Documents

Standards documents don’t have to be complicated. In fact, I really like using a “cheat sheet” approach that has minimal text, ample screen captures, and a companion quick demo video.

In fact, I often create my standards documents a bit backwards, where I create an example video first, then take screen captures and text from the video to build standards documents. I don’t labor extensively on written standard sheets; I just want the document to be a memory jogging tool to help users remember what they learned when watching the demo video.

Keep your instructions (written and in video) to a minimum — shorter is always better.

Debug Standards

When you create a standard and demo video, do take the time to go review everything and fix any problems you find. Pay particular attention to awkward wording or vague instructions. As you work through the standards, remember that the reason for the standard is to make it easy for users to understand a complex concept.

And, after you make your changes to the standards documents, why not let your trusted power users have a look to get another opinion? You’ll never be sorry that you took the time to make your standards clear, but you’ll always be sorry if you put out a bad standard that raises more questions than it answers. .

Your next step is to design videos and documents to make your standards easy to follow, plus set up a central location for easy access to the standards. But, what do you do about those few users that refuse to follow along?  Find out what to do >>

Tools & Resources

Vlog Watch: Mavens of Manufacturing

Mavens of Manufacturing is a live video series that celebrates women in manufacturing. From the shop floor to the c-suite, you’ll hear their stories and learn how they are setting the new standards for American manufacturing and changing the world. In a recent episode, Meaghan Ziemba interviews Clarice LaFreniere, an original Rosie the Riveter. Find out how Clarice got involved with welding during the war, what her experience was like as a woman welder, what she did after the war, and how being a part of the Rosie the Riveter Association has changed her life. Find out more >>

Webinar: Why Digital Twins are a Big Deal, Thursday, March 10, 11am (EST)

CIMdata is hosting a free webinar, “Digital Twin - Why the big deal?” CIMdata will examine digital twins, what they are, why they are important, some of the challenges in implementing a digital twin, including the need for a functioning digital thread/web, and remedies to the challenges. Read more >>

New Cloud-based Manufacturing Software

Xometry, a digital marketplace for on-demand manufacturing, today announced a series of new initiatives, including cloud-based enterprise software to help manufacturers digitize their operations. The software from FactoryFour, which Xometry acquired in November 2021, is an end-to-end platform, known as a manufacturing execution system, that allows shops and shop owners to digitize and automate their operations. The software is designed to integrate seamlessly with the AI-driven Xometry Marketplace and with the Thomasnet.com platform, according to the company. Read more >>

Case Study: Using Technology to Keep Sharp, at Elizabeth Ellis Interior Design

Find out how interior designer Elizabeth Ellis uses various technologies, including Archicad, to help her stand out from the crowd, win more projects, and prevent issues arising on the job site. Read more >>

Present at Future Manufacturing Summit

Hexagon is looking for potential presenters for the company’s Future of Manufacturing Summit, taking place at the Venetian, Las Vegas 20–23 June 2022. Topic submissions due March 31, 2022. Suggested topics include: How have you digitized your manufacturing ecosystem? How have you created value from your current data? And, how have you automated your processes? Learn more >>

New Graphics Lineup

AMD released additions to the AMD Radeon PRO W6000 Series desktop and mobile workstation graphics lineup, designed to deliver exceptional performance, stability, and reliability for professional users, including CAD designers, engineers, and office knowledge workers, according to the company. The new AMD Radeon PRO W6400 graphics card is built on the AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture and advanced 6nm manufacturing process technology, with 16MB of high-bandwidth, low-latency AMD Infinity Cache memory technology acting as a bandwidth amplifier. Learn more >>

What's New From Our Sponsors

Sponsored: Electronics Design Made Easy from Start to Finish

Case Study: Ways Electron develops assorted electronic components with ZWCAD and ZW3D.  Read more >>

What's New at Cadalyst

Get More Acquainted with Dynamo

CAD Programming, Dynamo Part 2. Creating Complex Objects in Civil 3D and Revit without coding. By Andrew G. Roe   Read more >>

The Misconception of Professional Computing and CPU Core Counts

Herrera on Hardware: Especially in CAD applications, lower core count CPUs still dominate the market. By Alex Herrera  Read more >>

Free Resources

White Paper

Implementing Generative Design for AEC

Cadalyst and Z by HP joined forces to write this white paper on generative design for AEC. Find out how you can get your design firm bought into this technology, what hardware you require, and how to secure funding for any upgrades you may need. 

Ebook

Cadalyst's Fab Freebies for
CAD Users 2021

"Why buy it if you can get it for free!"

The editors of Cadalyst, with help from our contributing editors and readers who are in the CAD trenches day in and day out, have updated everyone's favorite guide to helpful tools and resources that don't cost a cent. The latest edition of the “Fabulous Freebies for CAD Users” guide has something for everyone, including unit converters, file and text utilities, PDF converters, BIM tools, CAD management tools, and more!