March 9, 2022

Issue # 486

Back-to-Basics Boot Camp: Training 

Build efficiency, knowledge, and teamwork by developing a strong in-house training program. 

In prior installments of the Back-to-Basics Boot Camp series, we’ve discussed the importance of communication techniques and the art of implementing standards. Our series now continues with the concept that unifies communication and standards: Your training program.

In this edition of the CAD Manager’s Newsletter, I’ll give you a quick series of recommendations to help you create the best training program you can, using the least amount of time possible, so you can achieve the greatest return on your training investment. Here goes.

Image source: photon_photo/stock.adobe.com.

Solve Problems and Speed Up!

First, realize that due to the minimum of time that most upper management will devote to training, you’ll have to prioritize training topics and only spend time on the topics that really matter. You can’t train everyone on everything without investing a lot of time, right? So, how do you prioritize your training topics? Consider these metrics:

• Does the training topic address a current problem?
• Will the training topic give users methods to achieve greater speed?
• Will the training amplify and enhance standards?

If you find a training topic that meets at least two of these criteria, then you know it is a valid training topic. Why? Because you’ll either eliminate a problem or speed production as you enhance standards compliance.

Notice how my criteria didn’t include items like “cool new features” or “what does the latest release of a new CAD program look like” or anything else nonspecific. My goals are to make users faster using the standards and tools we already have.

Examples and Course Guides

So, what’s the quickest, easiest way to get examples and course guides constructed for your training class? Here’s what I do:

Conceive an exercise. This is an exercise I’ll use during training, so it needs to be simple enough to understand, yet demonstrate the concepts clearly. Save before and after cases of your models, parts, or drawings so you can easily demonstrate each step. And, consider rehearsing your exercise using video recordings to achieve optimal sequencing of steps.

Make screen captures of all menus and pertinent steps. I simply run through the exercise like I’m rehearsing for training and take screen captures (I use Snagit), which I then paste into a Word document to create a training “cheat sheet” for attendees.

Put in instructions. Now, I simply add the basic instructions required to work through the exercise beside my screen captures to complete my course guide — often reviewing my practice recordings to capture key phrases that I use.

Check it. I then go back through the exercise using my cheat sheet to check that everything flows correctly. When I’m done checking, I then give my course guide to a trusted power user for a “sanity and spell” check just to make sure it makes sense. Note: Nothing is worse than giving training and realizing you left something out of the course guide!

Once you're organized, how should you approach delivering your training? And, find out how to keep the trainings available long term.   Read More >>

Tools & Resources

Free Webinar:
CAD Data Management — Advancing Product Design in 2022

When: March 23, 2022. 1pm EST

Gartner’s top strategic technology trends for 2022 underscore the importance of business agility, and the importance of cloud-native platforms to improve data access and IT resiliency. At a time of higher customer expectations, unpredictable supply chain issues and the need for faster time to market, seamless design data flow is proving critical to business success.

Register now for this webinar to hear how Lucas Lappe, co-founder and head of product at Doris Dev, implemented better data management practices into his team’s product design workflow, and the resulting benefit on innovation and speed they have experienced.  Register for free >>

Lenovo Announces New Workstation 

Lenovo announced the next-generation of its ThinkStation P620 desktop workstation. The latest ThinkStation P620 offers the next-generation AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5000WX-Series processor, offering up to 25% performance improvement over the previous generation, according to the company. Additionally, the tower workstation is available with a new 24 core CPU option, allowing for expansion and configurability for professional users. This includes support for up to two 2 NVIDIA RTX A6000 graphics cards, up to 1TB of memory and 20TB of storage. The latest version of the P620 also offers: PCIe Gen 4 for increased speed across storage, memory, and graphics; two times the L3 cache directly accessible per core compared to the previous generation CPU for reduced latency; increased clock speeds up to 4.5GHz; up to 64 core processor; 10GB of built-in ethernet; and Windows 11 support. Read more >>

Watch:

International Women’s Day 2022: Top Engineering Questions Answered

This International Women’s Day, women from the railway and beyond answer some of the internet's most asked questions about science, tech, engineering and maths (STEM). Watch the video of these amazing engineers!

Watch the video >>

Graphics Card Release

AMD announced new additions to the AMD Radeon PRO W6000 Series desktop and mobile workstation graphics lineup, for professional users, including CAD designers, engineers and office knowledge workers. 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. According to the company, the new graphics card is optimized for the requirements of today’s popular CAD and office productivity applications in a compact design that can be added to modern small-form-factor desktops. Read more >>

Virtual Conference: NVIDIA GTC Conference and Training

When: March 21 – 24, 2022.

NVIDIA’s GTC developer conference for developers, researchers, creators, IT decision makers, and business leaders. Join NVIDIA to learn more about how to shape our world with the power of AI, computer graphics, data science, and more. Hear from top technologists from Deloitte, Epic Games, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Pfizer, Sony, Visa, Walt Disney, Zoom, and more. Register for free >>

What's New From Our Sponsors

Sponsored: The Equipped Mold Designer: Get Management Buy-in to Cloud Technology

Secure support and funding for your technology implementation.  Read more >>

What's New at Cadalyst

Roads Get Smarter

Civil Engineering: Find out what’s behind the technology that will shape the design of our future roads and vehicles.

By Andrew G. Roe  Read more >>

Additive Manufacturing Leads Production to New Heights

Find out what additive manufacturing is, how it’s used, and where the technology is leading. By Cadalyst Staff  
Read more >>

CAD Cartoon

— By Roger Penwill                                                                Keep on laughing!

Free Resources

Cadalyst Pro Tip: 

Training Checklist for CAD Managers

Training is an essential task on every CAD manager's to-do list. But with all those little details to remember, preparing a clear, informative training session can ve overwhelming. Use this handy checklist from CAD management expert Robert Green to help you be successful.