5 Ways to Get More out of your MCAD System

Much of the software that organizations purchase is underutilized.   I do not think any of us would be surprised if we were told we only use five percent of the functionality sitting on our computers right now.   We all know there is additional functionality someplace buried in buttons, pull-downs, and configuration files that could make ourselves and our people more productive, however, somehow we still only use a fraction of the software for which we paid good money.

There are some reasons for this situation.   Software companies race to beat out the competition and claim they have the most functionality, thus flooding their systems with more and more capabilities in every new release.   Also, in order to broaden their customer base, companies are constantly adding functionality that is built to attract a very specific audience.   Aerospace manufacturers have very different requirements than, let us say, a toy company, and a savvy software developer will add specific functionality to attract a specific industry.  Finally, these dynamics are magnified by the fact that we feel we do not have any time to learn or implement more software.   How can there be time when there is product to deliver and customers to talk to?

Despite these market realities, there is a business justification for finding ways to use more of what you own or are about to own.  And more than any other software out there, this is true for CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems.  Here I want to make some suggestions specifically around software packages like Creo, Pro/ENGINEER, Catia, NX, Solidworks, and Inventor.

#1, Find An Expert to Help You With an Initial Configuration

3D mechanical design software has been around for 30 years.   As a result there are some very good experts walking around who have lived through the evolution of the systems and have tens-of-thousands of hours of experience.    Too many design teams are using the out-of-the-box version of the software when they could be benefiting from all the lessons learned by industry.

For the cost of one or two days of consulting, you can have one of these experts help you turn on all the hidden functionality, establish automated design standards, match the interface to your specific needs, and set up other tools that will significantly decrease your design hours.   It is also helpful if the expert delivers a start part, formats, templates, and any other libraries they may be able to share.   The benefits can be significant, and when I say significant, I mean something like a 50% decrease in design time.   For a small price you can benefit from many of the configuration benefits that have taken other companies years or decades to figure out.  And, of course, doing it as early as possible is your best investment.

COST:   $1200-$1600/day, depending on which system you are using

#2, Start a Design Standards Book

At their core, designers and engineers do not actually create products.   They create the documentation that describes the products.   The irony is that most product development groups do not document their own standards and best practices, nor do they document their rules for how to document their products.   As your team uses the system over the years they are going to learn a thousand different things that will help to get products to market faster.   Learning and discovering those best practices cost money and time.   And to avoid having to reinvest in that learning and discovery over and over again, you need to write those things down.

Starting a design standards book can solve this problem for you.   Start a living document that grows and evolves with your team.   Make sure it includes information about drawing formats, bill of materials, printing standards, rules and locations of configurations files, best practices for modeling of the 3D parts and assemblies, file management, and design rules.  And make it part of your monthly practice to update that book and keep it available to everyone.

COST:   $0, just a little time and effort.

#3, Commit to Training and Continuous Improvement Over Time

As you read this, you are currently behind schedule on multiple projects and so is everyone sitting around you.   This makes it almost impossible to think about going to training to become better with the tools you already use.   But if you do not become more skilled with the tools you use, your competitors, who have the same or similar tools as you, and who are going to training on a regular basis, are going to outperform you.

Most VARs (value added resellers) of CAD software offer regularly scheduled classes for everyone from beginners to experts.   The companies who are getting the most out of their design software are budgeting for their staff to get three or more days of additional training every year.   Once budgeted, each individual can receive notifications when classes are available.  Many of the VARs have pre-developed learning paths that they can send you, taking the mystery out of which class to take next.

It is very common in my line of work to see experienced, hard-working, innovative designers using design tools and techniques based on how they were trained to do it ten years ago and wasting tons of time and energy.   When you stack up the lost days, weeks, and months from being inefficient, it becomes easy to justify a few days a year to think about how you can get your job done more effectively.

COST:  $1000-$1500/year per user for the training.   Documentation for a learning path should be free.

#4, Know What You Get In Your Support Contract

Nearly all CAD systems include a yearly support contract.   In most of those support contracts your company gets an overwhelming number of benefits, of which most customers do not take advantage.   More often than not, companies are just paying their maintenance to get access to the latest releases and bug fixes.  And while those services are very valuable, there is so much more you could be getting.

Additional tools you should discuss with your support provider may include one or more of the following:  24 hour tech support, on-line knowledge bases, hands-on workshops, free seminars and webinars on best practices and new functionality, free software and plug ins that needs to be downloaded, trial versions of advanced modules, system health checks, and in some cases actual classroom training.

COST: $0, assuming you are purchasing a support contract.   Cost of support contracts vary by product.

#5 Understand Upgrades and Add-Ons

In order to be able to offer entry level packages to new customers, most of the CAD companies offer base packages; many of them priced at around five thousand dollars.   These low-priced base packages have rather limited functionality.   This is great for start-ups and small/medium sized companies.  It allows everyone to benefit from the same technology that helps Fortune 500 companies like Toyota, John Deere, and Moen to aggressively compete and innovate.

However, the sweet spot for your company and your product design process may not be available in a base package.   If the one or two pieces of functionality that will allow you to reach massive decreases in development time requires an upgrade or add-on, you may be missing out.  So the best thing you can do is have someone in your organization take the time to understand what is available in the higher end packages.   And this can be done quickly.  Between web pages, webinars, YouTube videos, product data sheets and the experts who work for your VAR, you do not have to go any further than your desk to know what is available to you and get some advice or what might benefit your company.

Also, consider taking a class in advanced functionality before you make the investment.  Many VARs will allow you a limited time trial license when you take a class so you can decipher the value in a real world environment before purchasing.

COST: $0, it just requires a little time to know what is out there.