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Management

CAD Manager's Newsletter #146

8 Mar, 2006 By: Robert Green


Cadalyst CAD Manager's Newsletter

CAD Manager Productivity Hints, Part 3

Some final suggestions to make you look — and work — smarter

In the last edition of the CAD Manager’s Newsletter (click here for archives), I continued my productivity hints series by giving you some ideas about how to leverage yourself with respect to handling CAD standards. Many readers wrote to say they were able to use my hints to get better results. Great!

In this installment, I’ll wrap up my productivity hints series with some topics that will help you innovate and be more proactive in your job, thus making you look smarter and better prepared – not to mention more productive.Here goes.

Tip 1: Start a “Bright Ideas List”

The “Bright Ideas List” is simply a way for you to capture your best ideas when you have them, instead of forgetting them. I guess I’m old school because I have a spiral notebook that I keep on my desk or in my laptop bag, depending on where I am, that functions as my bright ideas list. The great thing about a spiral notebook is that it stays in order, is harder to lose than a scrap of paper, and requires no batteries to function. I can use my bright ideas notebook in taxis, on crowded airplanes, while waiting to pick up my kids at the hockey rink and so forth, without having to boot up an electronic device.

The point is that most successful CAD managers think about things all the time yet never really know when the lightning bolt of innovation will strike. If you have a notebook handy for capturing those thoughts when they happen, you’ll never lose that inspiration, and you set yourself up to follow through and act on your idea because now it’s in writing.

Conclusion: A great idea forgotten is worse than never having had one. Read more >>

:: CAD Manager's Q&A

Can you give me some pointers on improving my career prospects as a CAD manager?

Robert Green replies: I get this general question a lot, particularly at speaking engagements where I can talk to people one-on-one. Although I can’t give specific career advice, I’m happy to share some tips that the successful CAD managers I know seem to share. Read more >>

Submit your questions to Robert Green atrgreen@greenconsulting.com.

:: Resources

Peek into the Work Life of AEC CAD Managers in the United Kingdom: Evolve Consultancy last week released its report on the CAD manager's role in the U.K. architectural, engineering and construction industry. Based on a survey held over the past few months, the online study highlights the common tasks undertaken by those with a responsibility for CAD, what is important, what is not and the associated challenges. The survey attracted a variety of respondents, from CAD technicians with some responsibility for CAD support to full-time, dedicated CAD managers.

The report shows some noticeable trends since the previous study, conducted in 2004:

  • Greater number of full-time CAD managers
  • More companies using BIM (building information modeling)
  • Most support calls cover the usual topics: data translation, printing and lack of training
  • Increased use of a recognized CAD standard
  • Lack of investment in training
To read a full copy of the report and its conclusions, visit EatyourCAD.com.

Send us the address of your favorite Web site or other resource and a few words about why you like it. E-maileditors@cadalyst.com.

:: Events

AUGI Manufacturing Conference
March 28, 2006 (Rochester, New York)
April 4, 2006 (San Francisco, California)
Autodesk User Group International offers free, half-day learning and networking events created specifically for the manufacturing industry. Designed to increase productivity and efficiency in using Autodesk manufacturing solutions, each session will consist of four training classes.  Attendees will learn best practices for moving to 3D and tips and tricks for boosting productivity with Autodesk Inventor software.

IDEAL Web Presentations
Ongoing
Interactive webinars and live product demonstrations on a variety of dates address topics relevant to large-format document production, 3D printing and other hardware technology. Presented by IDEAL.


For Cadalyst's full calendar of events, click here.

:: What's New at Cadalyst.com

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