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May 13, 2009 4:25 PM
Last Post By: djohnson1976
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Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 3, 2009 7:26 PM
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I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 3, 2009 7:39 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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I've heard 35-70. ΒΌ time at 35 to full time at 70+ Never read any survey or anything, tho. I'm at 20% for 35 or so. I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 3, 2009 8:22 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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I have heard the number at 50+ production folks. Once above that you need to start thinking about a "full-time" CAD manager. -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 3, 2009 11:02 PM
in response to: Jeff Hanson \(A...
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Ah, another bored autodesk employee.
I have heard the number at 50+ production folks. Once above that you need to start thinking about a "full-time" CAD manager. -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 6:12 PM
in response to: Beaver
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I hope that wasn't a slam at Jeff. Jeff is a valuable contributor to this discussion group and we appreciate his willingness to participate. He takes unwarranted heat for users' grievances against Autodesk. Doug
Ah, another bored autodesk employee.
I have heard the number at 50+ production folks. Once above that you need to start thinking about a "full-time" CAD manager. -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 9:24 PM
in response to: Doug
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I can take the heat. ;-) -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
I hope that wasn't a slam at Jeff. Jeff is a valuable contributor to this discussion group and we appreciate his willingness to participate. He takes unwarranted heat for users' grievances against Autodesk. Doug
Ah, another bored autodesk employee.
I have heard the number at 50+ production folks. Once above that you need to start thinking about a "full-time" CAD manager. -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Posts:
35
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03/03/09
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 9:35 PM
in response to: Jeff Hanson \(A...
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Hey, Jeff, I have a question for you, and the answer may be somewhere on Autodesk's web site, so please forgive me for being lazyand asking you instead of wading around the site...but I'm wondering if you can plug me into the loop on what training is available from either Autodesk or its vendors that keeps drafters up to speed on changes with each new AutoCAD release, and also just general CAD training that might specialize in areas that drafters want to learn about. My only experience with this is one of your vendors, The CAD Store, in Longmont, Colorado. I attended some training they sponsored, but it's been a few years ago now. Do you have some web links you can pass along to me? I would like to mention upcoming events to my lead and my manager here.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 10:24 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Training is handled through our reseller network. We do have Authorized Training Centers or ATCs. here is a link to help you find an ATC in your area. You might want to lok into local community colleges and technical schools as well. You may find some good resources there. -- Jeff Hanson Autodesk - AEC User Experience Team Manchester, NH
Hey, Jeff, I have a question for you, and the answer may be somewhere on Autodesk's web site, so please forgive me for being lazyand asking you instead of wading around the site...but I'm wondering if you can plug me into the loop on what training is available from either Autodesk or its vendors that keeps drafters up to speed on changes with each new AutoCAD release, and also just general CAD training that might specialize in areas that drafters want to learn about. My only experience with this is one of your vendors, The CAD Store, in Longmont, Colorado. I attended some training they sponsored, but it's been a few years ago now. Do you have some web links you can pass along to me? I would like to mention upcoming events to my lead and my manager here.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 6, 2009 1:33 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Don't forget Local User Groups as well if there's one near you, their events should be added to this calendar and you can set reminders for yourself. I typically do a 'what's new in autocad' presentation once a year for my group here in St. Louis. http://forums.augi.com/calendar.php?s=&month=3&year=2009&do=&c=3The ATP is also another free option: http://www.augi.com/education/schedule.asp?page=292There's a 'What's New in AutoCAD 2010' scheduled to begin on April 6th. The only industry-specific training I know about 'from Autodesk' is, of course, Autodesk University. Have you been yet? I work in Facilities Management and that's a bit of a small field, but, they've got classes for us at AU. I also take some MEP classes and CAD Management classes as I can. http://www.augi.com/autodeskuniversity/default.aspLooks like CADLearning offers (dvd or online) classes for 'Updates'... http://www.cadlearning.com/lms/course/category.php?id=46Cheers! Melanie Perry ***not all who wander are lost*** http://tech-tea.comhttp://augi.com/autocadhttp://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.comsteveyahn wrote: Hey, Jeff, I have a question for you, and the answer may be somewhere on Autodesk's web site, so please forgive me for being lazyand asking you instead of wading around the site...but I'm wondering if you can plug me into the loop on what training is available from either Autodesk or its vendors that keeps drafters up to speed on changes with each new AutoCAD release, and also just general CAD training that might specialize in areas that drafters want to learn about. My only experience with this is one of your vendors, The CAD Store, in Longmont, Colorado. I attended some training they sponsored, but it's been a few years ago now. Do you have some web links you can pass along to me? I would like to mention upcoming events to my lead and my manager here.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 3, 2009 8:53 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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My experience has been that at 35-40 a full time CAD manager really is needed but that 50 or so is when a company MAY pay for one. At 35-40 a full time CAD Manager can probobly pay for their salary plus with training, standards, customization etc. --
Lance White CADD Manager
Windows XP PRO (SP 3) LDT 08, Civil 3D 09 (SP 2) , MAP 3D 09
I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 2:04 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 19:26:44 +0000, steveyahn wrote: Does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager? 2. Matt matt@stachoni.com
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Posts:
113
Registered:
10/13/08
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 2:43 PM
in response to: Matt Stachoni
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 3:13 PM
in response to: Matt Stachoni
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1. :-) PJ "Matt Stachoni" wrote in message news:6135721@discussion.autodesk.com... On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 19:26:44 +0000, steveyahn wrote: Does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager? 2. Matt matt@stachoni.com
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 3:26 PM
in response to: Princess Jamie
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Where have you been? We've been worried sick.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 3:44 PM
in response to: Joe Blizzard
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Really!?
Sorry to disappear, had to do the pneumonia/heart dance for about 6 weeks...
And before all that i was on 3 wks vacation...
Hope you and the rest of the fivers are doing well.
Any news?
PJ
"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message news:6135827@discussion.autodesk.com... Where have you been? We've been worried sick.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 4:54 PM
in response to: Princess Jamie
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Come back!
Even if you're in your, um, PJ's....
-- Joshua Tapp
"Princess Jamie" wrote in message news:6135872@discussion.autodesk.com... Really!?
Sorry to disappear, had to do the pneumonia/heart dance for about 6 weeks...
And before all that i was on 3 wks vacation...
Hope you and the rest of the fivers are doing well.
Any news?
PJ
"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message news:6135827@discussion.autodesk.com... Where have you been? We've been worried sick.
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Posts:
263
Registered:
11/10/08
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 3:39 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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I think it depends more on the quality of the users rather than the quantity. If I have 60 expert users, all on the same page with what tools to use and how to put out a product, CAD Management won't be a full time gig. If I have a dozen users ranging in skill from circles-and-lines to give-me-more-BIM, all doing different things, CAD Management hours will never be enough to coordinate them.
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03/03/09
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 4:17 PM
in response to: sjb3d
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Yeah, that has generally been my experience, too, although I have never functioned as a CAD manager in a full time position. I have participated in one "workstation makeover" under a CAD manager where all our workstation's customization files were re-written, and re-customized to provide a completely standardized menu for all users. I thought it was enjoyable work, actually, which I suppose says something for me being a closet geek. I really got familiar with Autolisp, for which I was thankful. I have yet to go to VBA, and I guess I'm dragging my feet on that one. It appears to be easier to accomplish things with than lisp, but to me lisp still seems pretty powerful with the active-x stuff added in. I'm currently in the process of doing what I did before at a new company now, and I'm finding myself a little lost since I worked before under ACAD 2004, and now we have 2008...but it's coming along ok. I actually have not been officially designated a CAD manager where I'm at now, I'm just taking initiative to fix the problems that all managers are aware of when there is no active CAD manager...and our department consists of 6 full time drafters, and a handful of tech writers who occasionally use it, too, so you can see we're not huge here. But things need to be set up from scratch, which is actually kind of nice because it can be "my way or the highway"....almost. Anyway, thanks for all the input on my question.
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907
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05/25/04
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 8:40 AM
in response to: sjb3d
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I agree, it depends on your staff, at the moment I have been palmed off with a couple of drafters from another department- where all they really did with CAD was tracing functions, so my time is spent 50% on the training / drawing checking side and 50% on doing some work myself, I used to have 3 people who I could trust to do just about anything unsupervised, now I have to babysit two novices and train them from scratch- dont you just love re-deployment pools.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 6:57 PM
in response to: sjb3d
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Yes, It is in part, but it really depends on the definition of the CAD Manager and his tasks.
The a justification to employ a CAD Manager will be deturmined on your product and the resources needed to deliver the product.
Solutions vary... Archectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Circuit Design. Graphic Illistration etc.
Each Industry has it's own and varied solutions to deliver a product.
To specifically answer the question, the question needs to be specific and not in general. Otherwise your anwers will vary from 1 to 1000.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 7:57 PM
in response to: ejratliff@aaein...
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Sure, and I understand your point. I figured that there may be some consistency in numbers given certain factors and realities of the private sector, and the need to deliver a product profitably. I was only trying to get some general numbers and my answer seems to be somewhere around 30-40 seats can justify a manger full time. I was actually also wondering when a manager is justified period, and a case can be made that once you have more than one drafter at a company there has to be some coordination between drawings for consistency, so a CAD manager is needed, but obviously won't be paid full time to do it. You have a drafter functioning as a CAD man while still producing drawings himself. That's also good, of course, because who knows best what's needed to increase efficiency and customize than the person in the trenches every day? Just like a good lisp routine, there's lots of variables to this whole thing...
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 8:16 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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If a company does not have a guy who's title/job it is to be a CAD Manager even part time somebody in the company will take on at least some of those tasks. Fixing problems, installing, setting up, maybe blocks, customization, etc. --
Lance White CADD Manager
Windows XP PRO (SP 3) LDT 08, Civil 3D 09 (SP 2) , MAP 3D 09
Sure, and I understand your point. I figured that there may be some consistency in numbers given certain factors and realities of the private sector, and the need to deliver a product profitably. I was only trying to get some general numbers and my answer seems to be somewhere around 30-40 seats can justify a manger full time. I was actually also wondering when a manager is justified period, and a case can be made that once you have more than one drafter at a company there has to be some coordination between drawings for consistency, so a CAD manager is needed, but obviously won't be paid full time to do it. You have a drafter functioning as a CAD man while still producing drawings himself. That's also good, of course, because who knows best what's needed to increase efficiency and customize than the person in the trenches every day? Just like a good lisp routine, there's lots of variables to this whole thing...
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 11:43 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Wow your number analysis seems way off to me. If you have just 10 users, then you have some very large projects that have schedules to be met and quality that must be enforced. Add just 5 more users and you're talking about a large group for production.
A CAD Manager, where his duties include the basic tasks of Standardization - QA/QC, System Administration, Help Desk and Project CAD Coordination in a typical CAD Production environment (AEC). For 10 to 25 users, you need a Manager with limited or no hands on production responsibility. Once the users exceed 25 then the manager needs an assistant or two to relieve him of tasks he is overwhelmed by. For 35 to 50 Users, the tasks require more dedicated attention and can be divided between himself and assistants. Even with as few as 15 users maintaining the tasks can become very difficult. For example: Lets through manpower turnover and training into the mix. This means times has to be turned away from production quality becomes more of an issue and schedules start to slip.
These numbers are for pure production work and do not consider vertical applications. If you have verticals then more time will be spent with all four typical tasks and get worst if your time is involved in training. If you are only considering Help Desk and CAD System Administration 30-40 could possibly work.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 6, 2009 2:24 AM
in response to: ejratliff@aaein...
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I guess it depends on how good you are...
Wow your number analysis seems way off to me. If you have just 10 users, then you have some very large projects that have schedules to be met and quality that must be enforced. Add just 5 more users and you're talking about a large group for production.
A CAD Manager, where his duties include the basic tasks of Standardization - QA/QC, System Administration, Help Desk and Project CAD Coordination in a typical CAD Production environment (AEC). For 10 to 25 users, you need a Manager with limited or no hands on production responsibility. Once the users exceed 25 then the manager needs an assistant or two to relieve him of tasks he is overwhelmed by. For 35 to 50 Users, the tasks require more dedicated attention and can be divided between himself and assistants. Even with as few as 15 users maintaining the tasks can become very difficult. For example: Lets through manpower turnover and training into the mix. This means times has to be turned away from production quality becomes more of an issue and schedules start to slip.
These numbers are for pure production work and do not consider vertical applications. If you have verticals then more time will be spent with all four typical tasks and get worst if your time is involved in training. If you are only considering Help Desk and CAD System Administration 30-40 could possibly work.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 6, 2009 3:34 PM
in response to: ejratliff@aaein...
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In large companies it's a whole different dynamic. And if the company is multidisciplinary, that certainly adds greatly to the complexity and demands on a CAD Manager. Our company is such a firm, with Architecture, Interior Architecture, Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering and Eco-Technologies, and Graphic Design. While we have 10 IT people supporting 350 staff in two offices, which sounds like the typical 1:35 ration fir IT support, in reality it doesn't work that way. There are well over 200 staff who are active doing CAD, but CAD in the broadest sense, which includes tangential software application categories such as 3D & GIS. So myself as CAD Systems Manager, and one other IT staff doing "CAD Support", our ratio ends up being closer to 1:100, which can be rather daunting to say the least. So, it's not just AutoCAD for +200 staff, my realm of support includes Land Desktop, Civil 3D, Bentley StormCAD, WaterCAD & SewerCAD (these three are an overlay to AutoCAD), Revit Architecture, GIS software such as ESRI ArcGIS/ArcInfo, Google Earth Pro, Global Mapper, Autodesk MAP, Autodesk Raster Design, and a litany of GIS-related plugins and utilities, 3D software such as 3ds Max Design, VIZ, Google SketchUp Pro, SU Podium, Rhino 3D, + the litany of 3D plugins, cost estimating software like RS Means Costworks, specialty apps like Architectural Graphics Standards 4.0, Buzzsaw, Autoturn, EcoTect, NavisWorks, yada yada. Most all of these are network licensed. I think my head is going to explode!
Wow your number analysis seems way off to me. If you have just 10 users, then you have some very large projects that have schedules to be met and quality that must be enforced. Add just 5 more users and you're talking about a large group for production.
A CAD Manager, where his duties include the basic tasks of Standardization - QA/QC, System Administration, Help Desk and Project CAD Coordination in a typical CAD Production environment (AEC). For 10 to 25 users, you need a Manager with limited or no hands on production responsibility. Once the users exceed 25 then the manager needs an assistant or two to relieve him of tasks he is overwhelmed by. For 35 to 50 Users, the tasks require more dedicated attention and can be divided between himself and assistants. Even with as few as 15 users maintaining the tasks can become very difficult. For example: Lets through manpower turnover and training into the mix. This means times has to be turned away from production quality becomes more of an issue and schedules start to slip.
These numbers are for pure production work and do not consider vertical applications. If you have verticals then more time will be spent with all four typical tasks and get worst if your time is involved in training. If you are only considering Help Desk and CAD System Administration 30-40 could possibly work.
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203
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09/24/08
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
May 13, 2009 4:25 PM
in response to: ejratliff@aaein...
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I agree. I think that overlooking the functions of a CAD Administration can be costly for a company in many ways. I have been over 60 people and over 10...it really does depend on the industry and the breadth of the software being used. I do think that even full-time CAD Managers should be involved (even if only 5%) with some production work simply to stay connected to the users' experience.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 5, 2009 11:43 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Wow your number analysis seems way off to me. If you have just 10 users, then you have some very large projects that have schedules to be met and quality that must be enforced. Add just 5 more users and you're talking about a large group for production.
A CAD Manager, where his duties include the basic tasks of Standardization - QA/QC, System Administration, Help Desk and Project CAD Coordination in a typical CAD Production environment (AEC). For 10 to 25 users, you need a Manager with limited or no hands on production responsibility. Once the users exceed 25 then the manager needs an assistant or two to relieve him of tasks he is overwhelmed by. For 35 to 50 Users, the tasks require more dedicated attention and can be divided between himself and assistants. Even with as few as 15 users maintaining the tasks can become very difficult. For example: Lets through manpower turnover and training into the mix. This means times has to be turned away from production quality becomes more of an issue and schedules start to slip.
These numbers are for pure production work and do not consider vertical applications. If you have verticals then more time will be spent with all four typical tasks and get worst if your time is involved in training. If you are only considering Help Desk and CAD System Administration 30-40 could possibly work.
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1,475
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 4, 2009 7:22 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Depends what the company does, what software is being used, and what the support tasks are. For example, I work for a process piping EPCM, and support designers working in piping design, structural design, electrical design, and some surface modelling - all across a good half-dozen programs. I was originally responsible for data input and system set-up but I've had everything from license management to user training and creating documentation added. For around 75 designers I have an assistant plus a handful of power users in each department and its a good balance for the time being. If the latest round of upgrades work well enough I *might* have time to start some hardcore .NET work; but then again, it will be time to upgrade AutoCAD at that point as well.
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Re: Typical size of a CAD managed department
Posted:
Mar 6, 2009 12:50 PM
in response to: steveyahn
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Department? We don't need no stinking department. PJ I just have a general question about CAD management: I've wondered if someone knows the average size in workstations/drafters of a CAD department that has a full-time CAD manager? In other words, as a drafting department grows, at some point CAD management becomes necessary to promote unity and efficiency across several workstations...does anyone have input on how large a department typically must be to justify a full-time CAD manager?
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