Cadalyst - June 2008 - (Page 39)

cadmanager Train Periodically One of the things that makes users lose their enthusiasm for standards is a lack of training. After all, it' s a lot easier to follow something that' s been explained to you rather than read a memo that' s been thrown in front of you. And even though we strive to make our standards easy to use and to read, there' s something about actually giving your users some group training to get them motivated enough to use them. Please note that I don' t think you have to go crazy with standards training. In fact, good standards training happens in short bursts, not in long, drawn-out sessions. My goal is to keep the coverage brisk and focused while communicating the basic requirements of the standards. Focusing standards training in this manner will make your boss happy, too, because you won' t be spending a lot of billable time performing training. layer, linetype, dimension-style, and text-style compliance in DWG files Ð but I' ve found that when CAD standards are violated one of these standards items serves as a good indicator. Because so many CAD deliverables are in DWG file format, the batch standards checker is a great low-cost way to audit everything that comes across your desk, no matter which CAD application produced the file. Project and Job Kickoff When new projects get underway, there' s usually a buzz of activity and some excitement you can use to your advantage in reinforcing your standards. Sometimes you may even need to introduce project-specific standards to meet customer requirements anyway. Here are the key things to do to achieve a great project kickoff and make standards stick: Write it down. If there are any new standards for a project, write them in a short summary-style memo so that users quickly get the information they need. Talk through it. Present the information in your standards kickoff meeting in a fast-paced, lecture-style format using PowerPoint or your CAD program to illustrate pertinent screen captures or software features. The goal here is to show people what they' ll encounter on the project and how the CAD standards will be used. Record it. Use video and/or screen recordings of your training sessions so anyone who missed the kickoff meeting can catch up later by watching the presentation. Answer questions. Take down all questions asked during project kickoffs and answer them fully by follow-up documentation. Don' t rely on verbal explanations because verbal instructions can be misinterpreted. If any substantial questions are raised, you may even need to do a quick follow-up meeting to answer them. Remember that the purpose of these kickoff meetings is to emphasize how standards will be used on the job and to rekindle enthusiasm for working with better processes and getting the job done better. All of these concepts will help you make your CAD standards stick. Good standards training happens in short bursts, not in long, drawn-out sessions. Keep the coverage brisk and focused while communicating the basic requirements. Peer review. Have some of your trusted power users take turns auditing CAD files for standards compliance. By doing so, you' ll send a powerful message that you' re watching and you' re not going to accept noncompliance. Admittedly, this option is a heavier-handed approach, but it really does work. Keep Adjusting I' ve observed that CAD standards are never really finalized because job scopes change, CAD software evolves, and the process workflow in your company mutates over time. In essence, you' re never done with CAD standards because CAD standards must change to help you deliver work more quickly as circumstances change. The opportunity for CAD managers is to adjust CAD standards continually so they' ll become even easier to use and more automated as time goes by. So rather than viewing standards changes as a hassle that must be dealt with periodically, view CAD standards changes as a gradual, evolutionary process that gives you a chance to better serve your users. When your users believe you are looking out for their ease of use, they' ll be much more likely to follow the standards you produce. Robert Green performs CAD programming and consulting throughout the United States and Canada. His book, Expert CAD Management: The Complete Guide is now available. Reach him via his Web site at www.cad-manager.com. Enforcement An old adage says that people only obey the law when they know the law is enforced. CAD standards seem to follow this rule as well. The bottom line is that you may find yourself in the mode of enforcer at some point in your CAD management career, so you may as well know some methods to stay on top of CAD standards enforcement. Batch standards checker. If you have a copy of AutoCAD in your office, then you already have this useful tool. The batch standards checker is limited Ð it checks only for June 2008 cadalyst www.cadalyst.com Read More at Cadalyst.com CAD Manager' s Newsletter archives www.cadalyst.com/CADManagerNewsletter CAD Manager' s Toolbox/Q&A www.cadalyst.com/CADManagerToolbox CAD Managers Discussion Forum http://forums.cadalyst.com/ 39 http://www.cad-manager.com http://www.cadalyst.com http://www.cadalyst.com/CADManagerNewsletter http://www.cadalyst.com/CADManagerToolbox http://forums.cadalyst.com/ http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - June 2008

Cadalyst - June 2008 Contents Editor's Window CAD Central Tech Trends: Community Building in Progress A Quarter Century of Cadalyst Tracking a CAD Giant The Highs and Lows of CAD Hardware Industry Insights — Looking Ahead Cadalyst Lab Reviews: HP xw4600 Workstation with LP3065 30” LCD Monitor NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700 — Graphics Card LaCie 324 — LCD Monitor CAD Manager: Making Standards Stick MCAD Modeling: Rational vs. Irrational Decisions AEC Insight: Data Collection in AEC CAD Cartoon Issue Indexes Hot Tip Harry: Just a Few CAD Renovations

Cadalyst - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.