The CAD Manager’s Services Include
(1) Maintaining hardware and software. The
most basic function of the CAD manager is to keep the CAD machines
running and to coordinate network procedures for storage of CAD data.
These responsibilities can be shared with either a central computer
support department or an external IT Maintenance Contractor, but the
CAD manager must always take the lead in solving problems and will
always be the responsible party. In fact, many CAD managers could work
in centralised computer support departments but elect not to because
CAD management keeps them in their design skill area.
(2) Providing primary CAD support. CAD
managers must be able to answer most of the questions that arise daily.
This requires familiarization with all software platforms in the
company and may require in-depth, self-directed study or training on an
ongoing basis. Another way to state this is that the CAD manager
becomes the “go to” authority on any CAD problem.
(3) CAD standards formulation. A
key part of any CAD department is working to either a company CAD
standard or a customer standard. The CAD Manager must take the lead
role in formulating and enforcing CAD standards for layering,
dimensioning, text annotations and information storage. The enforcement
of CAD standards correlates closely to how effectively the CAD Manager
can communicate the importance of standards and get upper-level design
or engineering management to agree to the standards.
(4) Technology resource planning. More
than ever, CAD managers are being required to look into the future to
plan for new software releases and decide how to make the CAD
department more efficient. CAD managers are much more likely to keep up
with new technology now than a few years ago. Remember that planning
for resources and new technology isn’t just about being a futurist; the
CAD manager will need to establish budgets and cost justifications to
back up the recommendations.
(5) Document / Archive management. Increasingly,
CAD managers are taking on the role of implementing document
management solutions as an extension of the CAD standards or procedures
portion of their job. The control of CAD information to ensure proper
revisioning, issuing and archiving of drawings.
(6) CAD Staff management. Sometimes
CAD managers are responsible for hiring CAD drafters and must oversee
temporary staff to ensure that CAD projects are completed on time. In
these situations, CAD managers become responsible for scheduling
resources to performing reviews to disciplinary procedures.
(7) Staff training. CAD
managers are frequently called upon to orient new employees or to help
existing employees beef up their CAD skills. The forward-thinking CAD
manager will devise a training plan that allows them to leverage
industry training books, Internet sites and multimedia training
materials to meet these needs, rather than putting the time into
one-on-one tutoring. The CAD manager’s approach to training is crucial
because a strong training culture makes adoption of CAD standards much
easier
(8) CAD Draughting.
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