Your organization may be asking if it's time for CAD training. Here's how to find out whether the answer is yes or no.
By the time you start your first engineering gig, you'll more than likely have to use some type of CAD software - whether it be Creo, SolidWorks, Inventor, or another CAD solution. However, those entry-level skills aren't exactly enough to prepare you for the potential challenges laying ahead.
New employees almost always need CAD training - as well as users who have been using CAD for years, but haven't gone through any routine CAD upgrades. It's becoming increasingly easy for CAD users to fall behind, especially considering the countless emerging and advancing technologies throughout the industry.
When employees aren't fully prepared or sufficiently trained in the CAD software they use, it leaves a much larger margin for error. Employees may also find it impossible to reach expectations or channel their full potential.
There are a few warning signs that strongly indicate your team needs CAD training...
- On-boarding is slow
- Experienced employees aren't keeping their skills up-to-date
- Skill sets are limited
- New, novice users are disrupting your expert users
Let's dive into each:
1. On-boarding is slow
As you hire or bring on new team members, watch them as they come up to speed. If they seem to be struggling to learn or use core CAD features/functions, you'll likely need to train them. Although this is obvious, it is imperative. These new team members won't be utilizing their fullest potential and could additionally delay future projects, make design mistakes, slow down production, go over-budget, become discouraged, and various other issues have the possibility to arise.
2. Experienced employees aren't keeping their skills up-to-date
The world of product development evolves very quickly. New software is constantly being released, improved processes/ways of doing things are always being found, and modernized best practices are consistently rising to the surface.
When you're a skilled employee, it's tough to find the time to learn these new-and-improved ideas. If you find your employees or team members haven't been introduced to the latest and greatest ideas, make sure they get that background! It's essential to keep up with competitors, improve processes, keep up your efficiency, and more. If you're a manager, you may decide that your employees should go through training once a year to keep them up-to-date. If you're an employee or you feel as if your team is falling behind, you may want to discuss training with a manager or HR team member. There are also countless online training opportunities, remote learning solutions, in-center classes, books, and even more available.
3. Skill sets are limited
Many employees find themselves pigeon-holed into a narrow job function - even more so after being at the same company for a while. For example, you may always be producing 2D drawings, or focusing on wire harnesses. When you get pigeon-holed into a job function, it can really limit your potential. Without a broader sense of knowledge of what a software is capable of, you could be using outdated methods, missing out on an important feature or function, taking longer to complete a simple task, etc.
If you're only working in a few areas of your CAD software, you're missing out on big opportunities. Take this as a warning sign that you or your team members need training. By utilizing your CAD software to its' full potential, you can really maximize ROI.
With the help of CAD training, countless product development professionals report undeniable increases in their product proficiency, as well as their process efficiency.
4. New, novice users are disrupting your advanced, experienced users
What naturally occurs when your novice users have a question? They run to your more advanced users. Don't let an untrained team member or beginner-level user rely on your advanced users for constant help or assistance. This can really hurt productivity and tie up your advanced users. Provide your novice users with training, allowing them to learn and answer their own questions.
If you're noticing any of these warning signs, it may be time for some training. If not, keep up the good work - and ensure you're monitoring your CAD users so these warning signs don't arise in the future!
If you're interested in CAD training, we offer it! Visit our Mechanical Design Applications Specialist (CAD) page to find out more information about our program. In addition to our CAD program, we also offer similar programs, including:
Mechanical Design Technologies: https://www.visible-edge.com/mechanical-design-technologies/
Mechanical Engineering Technologies: https://www.visible-edge.com/mechanical-engineering-technologies/
Mechanical Engineering Review: https://www.visible-edge.com/mechanical-engineering-review/