CAD Manager's Newsletter (#175)

CAD Standards, Part 2: Process Focus

Put yourself in your users' place when explaining the necessity of standards.

In the June 13 issue of CAD Manager's Newsletter, I began a series on CAD standards. I outlined how you can get the standards process started within your company. I hope you've had a chance to prepare your standards list and are ready to have a talk with your management teams about the needs for standards. If you haven't had a chance to read the last installment, I recommend doing so now so you'll have the proper context for this discussion.

This time I want to talk about viewing standards from a process point of view rather than a technical CAD point of view so you can better communicate what you're trying to standardize and why it makes sense. Here goes.

Why Are We Changing?
When most CAD managers think of standards, they immediately think of the technical issues involved with standards, such as layers, fonts, format, and appearance of printed documents, colors, etc. We then get very involved in specifying these technical parameters to our users, assuming that everyone understands why we're doing what we're doing. My observation is that, until you explain to people what you're standardizing and why, they aren't particularly motivated to follow along with you. Read more>>

:: CAD Manager's Q&A

How can I enforce CAD standards?

Robert Green replies: If you make CAD standards all about saving money, then enforcement of CAD standards will also be about saving money. Using this principle will help you get all the senior managers, project managers, and accounting staff on your side with respect to standards enforcement. Read more>>

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

:: Resources

Online CAD Portal Offering Free CAD eBook

Send us the address of your favorite Web site or other resource and a few words about why you like it. If we publish it, we'll send you a Cadalyst t-shirt! E-maileditors@cadalyst.com. 

:: Events

Webinars: 10 Project Pain Points -- and How to Relieve Them
July 10 – September 20, 2007
11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EDT
Software company Newforma is presenting its summer webinar series, "10 Project Pain Points -- and How to Relieve Them." These webinars discuss solutions to the top ten pain points of today's practicing engineers and architects. The series will run twice each month through September. Read more

MicroStation PowerDay
July 23, 2007
London, United Kingdom
Evolve, a CAD consultancy and training firm, is offering CAD training called PowerDay, a series of short, focused training sessions on the most important areas of CAD. This PowerDay will offer sessions on many aspects of MicroStation; participants sign up and pay for only the sessions they wish to attend. Read more

AutoCAD PowerDay
July 24, 2007
London, United Kingdom
AutoCAD PowerDay, presented by Evolve, will offer sessions on many aspects of AutoCAD; participants sign up and pay for only the sessions they wish to attend. The sessions are designed for all user levels. Read more

ISEIT 2007 Americas
October 22-23, 2007
San Antonio, Texas
The International Symposium for Engineering IT (ISEIT) 2007 Americas will provide an opportunity to participate in a networking forum with leading technical consultants and advisers on plant and marine technology. Interactive presentations on the new AVEVA PDMS 12 and on AVEVA NET will demonstrate these progressive and innovative technologies. ISEIT Americas is colocated with Viewpoint, the AVEVA Americas independent users' group. Read more

Click here to view the complete calendar of events at Cadalyst.com.