Jim Brown, president of independent analyst firm Tech-Clarity, published a report which examines the need to manage CAD files and the current options available to manufacturers small and large. You can now get the full report free of charge with registration.
From Jim Brown:
Tech-Clarity Insight: The Basics of Managing CAD – When Brute Force Fails and PDM is too Much explains the pros and cons of manually managed approaches, implementing PDM/PLM, and utilizing cloud-based file management services. The research then reviews the basic necessities of CAD management – controlling, accessing, and sharing files – in order to uncover what a “just the basics” solution requires to determine if there are lower overhead methods (such as cloud services) that can be applied.
Executive Summary
Engineering, by its nature, is a logical and structured discipline. It’s no surprise, then, to see the level of organization that engineers apply to managing their CAD files. Unfortunately, many engineers manage files using meaningful file names on their hard drive. As the number of engineers on a project increases, managing files in a directory structure gets increasingly risky. Simply transforming the directory structure to a shared drive is not enough to manage multiple design iterations and have confidence that you can always find the current version. Or make sure that another designer doesn’t overwrite your hard work. Or really ever expect to find what you are looking for.
Some recognize the shortcomings and risks of a manual CAD management approach, while others are one mistake away from learning the hard way. “An unmanaged approach works OK for one person, but when you ask for something they spend a half a day scrambling to get data together,” cautions Jake Myre, owner of Hippo Engineering. “Then, they end up having a part made for a prototype and find out it’s three versions old. That’s not good.”
Beyond managing their own work, few engineers work in a vacuum. They must coordinate with other designers, contractors, suppliers, prototype shops, contract manufacturers, and others that need CAD data to do their jobs. PDM and PLM are formal, traditional systems designed to help manufacturers control, access, and share their CAD data. But as Tech-Clarity’s "Managing Design Data with SharePoint" concludes, “Unfortunately, data management solutions have been out of reach … due to cost and lack of IT resources.”
But engineers have to do something. Living in an unmanaged, manual environment is highly inefficient and prone to errors. For companies that have outgrown chaos and are tired of crossing their fingers and hoping they don’t order or produce the wrong part, it’s time for a practical solution. Fortunately, there are more options available today than ever before, including new cloud-based tools. It’s time for a rational discussion to explore the basic requirements for CAD data management and discuss whether they can be achieved without the cost and complexity that make traditional solutions impractical for many smaller manufacturers.
Get the full report (free of charge, registration required)
Struggling with CAD file management?
Unmanaged CAD data can lead to wasted time and expensive mistakes, but traditional PDM and PLM solutions are too costly for many companies. This guide, written by industry analyst Jim Brown, will help you find the solution that fits your needs.
