Tools
Below you’ll find useful tools for documenting your CAD management duties. I’ll add to these as time goes by so check back periodically.
AU 2007 Resources
First off THANK YOU to those who attended my courses during AU2007 - It was my pleasure to meet so many smart, articulate CAD managers. Your companies are indeed fortunate to have you! Below you’ll find all my presentation handouts and data files for AU arranged by date and class title. Download and enjoy!
Tuesday, November 27th
AutoLISP - Beyond the Crash Course
Wednesday, November 28th
CAD Manager’s Handbook 2008 - Part 1
CAD Manager’s Handbook 2008 - Part 2
Business and ROI Skills for CAD Managers
Thursday, November 29th
CAD Management Tips and Tricks from the Trenches
CM305-1L_AutoLISP for CAD Managers (with data files)
The CAD Managers Training and Standards Guide
CUI Tutorials
This page contains audio/video captures of CUI presentations I’ve done at a variety of CAD Camps and teaching events in 2007. It is my hope that by watching these segments you’ll become familiar with CUI customization a little faster and retain your sanity in the process.
I suggest using right click and SAVE TARGET AS to copy the file to your machine. These files are fairly large so expect some download time.
Part 3 - Intro to Customizing.wmv
As time goes by I’ll add more example to this page so feel free to check back often.
And be sure to check out my new book: Click here to learn more.
Private: Thank you for completing the survey!
Check November 2007 issue of Cadalyst Magazine for the results!
While you’re here please take a look around the site and drop me an email with any suggestions for making it a better resource for CAD Managers.
And be sure to check out my new book: Click here to learn more.
CAD Manager’s Survey 2007
Below you’ll find the complete list of survey questions I asked. As I correlate more of the data and publish it in the CAD Manager’s newsletter I’ll provide links to the data on this page.
The CAD Manager 2007 Survey Questions
Your title
Your country of residence?
Which best describes your company’s location?
Which best describes your company’s business?
Which best describes your company’s status?
Which best describes your compensation?
What is your annual base salary in US dollars?
Do you receive health insurance with your job? (countries outside US leave as N/A)
Do you receive profit sharing?
Do you receive an annual bonus?
What is your annual bonus or profit sharing amount in US dollars?
Job Metrics
Which best describes your CAD management status?
How many total hours per week do you work?
Part Timers Only
Do you think your company really NEEDS a full time CAD manager?
Does your management think your company really NEEDS a full time CAD manager?
Is CAD management a recognized part of your job?
Are your opinions on CAD issues respected?
How many hours per week do you usually spend doing CAD production/design work?
How many hours per week do you usually spend on CAD management tasks?
Do you want to become a full time CAD manager?
Budgeting and Purchasing
Do you prepare your department’s annual budget?
Do you have “signature authority” to purchase items?
Do you select CAD software and vendors?
Billing Pressure
Are you under pressure to be more billable?
If you answered yes to the above, which statement best describes your current situation?
Staffing Issues
Do you have “hire/fire” authority over personnel?
Do you perform employee evaluations each year?
Can you discipline employees who violate standards or company CAD procedures?
Do you interview job candidates?
Do you test job candidates for CAD ability?
Do you participate in reviewing employee performance?
Training
Does your company have a CAD training program?
Do you receive training benefits from your company?
Does your company have a training budget?
Do you perform your own training?
Which best describes your training program?
Do you use outside vendors or consultants to help you?
Do you write training manuals yourself?
Do you use audio/video training?
CAD Standards
Do you formulate your own standards?
Do you write standards manuals yourself?
Do you enforce CAD standards yourself?
Do your users support use of CAD standards?
Career/Business Questions
Has your company laid off workers recently?
Has your company hired workers lately?
Which best describes your company’s situation?
How secure do you feel in your job (1 being least secure and 10 being totally secure)?
Outsourcing
Has your company outsourced CAD work recently?
Frustration Items
Please rate your top 5 CAD management frustration items below. The list of items you may select from are CAD Standards Development, CAD Standards Enforcement, Not Having Enough Authority, Providing User Support, Training Issues, Dealing with Management, Lack of Budget, Not Enough Time, Too Much Pressure to be Billable or
What You Manage and How
How many CAD machines do you manage?
Who specifies/buys your CAD hardware?
Who maintains your CAD hardware?
How many CAD users do you support?
What is the MAIN CAD software package you manage? (Don’t worry about versions, just the product name)
If you replied “Other” enter the name here
Which best describes your company’s 2D/3D usage?
If you manage a second CAD software package which one is it?
If you replied “Other” enter the name here
Who manages/maintains all your plotting gear?
Do you do custom programming with any of your CAD systems?
Can you program in AutoLISP? (AutoCAD users only)
Can you program in Visual Basic or VBA?
Can you program using .NET tools?
PLM/Document Management
Do you use a document management or PDM system?
If you answered YES above do you maintain the system?
Private: Show Purchase Page
Test page for book sale
In the News
The CAD Geek Blog (October 2007)
Book review by blogger Donnie Gladfelter
Robinz CAD Blog (August 2007)
Book/speaking mention by blogger Robin Capper
NOVEDGE Blog (July 2007)
Interview with Franco F0lini
The Dirt Blog (May 2007)
Book review by blogger Pete Kelsey (scroll down the page)
CADIT Blog (May 2007)
Book review by blogger John Benstead
AutoCAD Insider Blog (April 2007)
Book mention by blogger Heidi Hewett
Expert CAD Management: The Book
At long last it is here! Expert CAD Management: The Complete Guide combines my writings, lectures and practical CAD management experience into book form at a price that working CAD managers can easily afford.
In Expert CAD Management, I tackle real world CAD management issues like budgeting, training, management oversight, expectation management and software/network configuration tips in a conversational style just like I’d use when teaching a class. I’ve also included a CD with some sample resources and a video presentation to help you use the book more efficiently.
It is my hope that you will find this book a useful tool in expanding your CAD management skills now and in the future. To show my appreciation to all CAD managers I’ll imprint and sign each book purchased directly from my web site.
US residents only can purchase the book using the Buy it Now link using a credit card or PayPal account (see the Buy Now link below) or if you prefer Amazon books via this link. Those outside the US can purchase via Amazon. Please be aware I can not ship to those outside the US!
$34.99 plus $4.80 shipping (continental US) via Priority Mail (2 to 3 days)
Buy Here with Paypal!Details
- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Sybex; Pap/Cdr edition (April 30, 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0470116536
- ISBN-13: 978-0470116531
Speaking Events 2008
If you’re in the neighborhood and can make one of the following events, why not drop by? We can talk about CAD management, share ideas and make you more productive and secure in your CAD management position. (If you’d like to sponsor a speaking event for your user group, professional society or company email me at rgreen@cad-manager.com and let’s talk it over.)
Apr-29: Philadelphia, PA USA
May-01: Charlotte, NC USA
May-06: Cincinnati, OH USA
May-08: Tampa, FL USA
May-13: Austin, TX USA
May-15: Atlanta, GA USA (my home town)
May-20: Las Vegas, NV USA
May-21: Los Angeles, CA USA
More summer dates coming soon …
Sep-24: Utrecht, NED (tentative)
Oct-13: Philadelphia, PA USA
2007 Events: Thanks to the 1,900-plus who attended my presentations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
2006 Events: Thanks to the 1,800-plus who attended my presentations in the United States and Canada.
2005 Events: Thanks to the 1,100-plus who attended my presentations in the United States and Canada.
Robert Green Consulting Group
When I’m not writing or teaching I’m heading up a consulting company that provides implementation services for private clients throughout the US and Canada. If you have a CAD project you need help with we can provide fast, cost effective solutions for the following needs:
- CAD Management Consulting
- CAD System Integration
- CAD Standards Implementations
- Custom Programming (Lisp, VB, Access/CAD integration)
- Document Management Systems
- Help Systems
- Strategy Development based on ROI metrics
- Training
- Wide Area CAD Administration
I’ve been an independent consultant since 1991 and have helped hundreds of clients maximize their CAD potential. My firm is a “one stop shop” which means we handle everything from needs analysis to coding to documentation and training. We’re not software pushers, we’re technical people who become your success partner in all things CAD.
Want to explore making your company much more efficient and build your CAD management skill set? Why not let me help you? Email me at rgreen@cad-manager.com and we can talk over the possibilities.
CAD-Manager.com
MY NEW BOOK IS OUT! Click here to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to drop by the site. It seems like only yesterday that I began writing for CADENCE Magazine in 1998. Now nine years, 104 monthly columns and 184 CAD Manager’s newsletters later I feel privileged to continue writing for Cadalyst Magazine. And now I’ve got a book on CAD management to pull all my advice together for the working CAD manager at a very reasonable price!
When I’m not writing I run a consulting company located in the Atlanta metropolitan area that serves clients all over the US and Canada.
Resources for CAD Managers
Throughout 2008 I’ll be introducing new video and audio learning resources via this web site so be sure to check back often. And, as always, as business conditions and technologies change you can be sure that I’ll continue to stay on the case and keep you, the CAD manager, informed.
You can browse through all my Cadalyst Magazine articles/newsletters as well as my CAD Manager’s sample code sections.
I also do a lot of teaching and public speaking engagements on CAD management, education and technology topics. I look forward to hearing from you or meeting you in person soon!