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CAD/Solidworks Admin

Question asked by Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018
Latest reply on Aug 14, 2018 by Daniel Melendez

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Is there an admin forum/page/group similar to this group/forum?

I'm being elected for an admin position again and I wholeheartedly welcome it. But with no formal training and a company a little larger than the one I was previously an admin at.

Plus the last place I was the sole SWx user when I started so the kick off wasn't too bad.

This current job they already have many people using SWx in the most terrible way possible. Some using it like Autocad others just doing what they can to get stuff out.

Almost none have ever worked in a shop nor as a designer just as simple draftsman and as the owner puts it's so rightly, they're just drawing/modeling pictures.

They follow no real standards so I know my work is most def cut out for me.

Any help or attention would be greatly appreciated.

CAD standards welcome

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Steve Calvert Aug 14, 2018 2:38 PM
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Pretty much many of us who do the same kinds of things as you're describing are all on this forum and will answer as soon as we can. The Admin page or the General page and Data Management get a lot of activity. I'd start there

Steve C
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- Daniel Melendez @ Steve Calvert on Aug 14, 2018 2:44 PM
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  Thank you Steve, I've been a member here for a while. I've been out of it because I couldn't get the VAR to successfully log me back in once I changed my email address for this site. So I finally had to simply start a new login. Odd thing it rolled over some things from my original login, so it recognizes me, but it didn't bring in any level or awards or whatever I had before along those line.
  Plus the questions are getting much more complicated so it looks like I've been falling behind compared to other.
  Thank you for your reply.
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  - Steve Calvert @ Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018 3:19 PM
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    Well welcome back...
    
    Steve C
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Frederick Law Aug 14, 2018 2:43 PM
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Sent everyone to training.
Or atleast went through SWX tutorials.
Gather all templates if there is any, pick out the good stuffs and put it all together.
Try to get input for company standard: title block, tolerance etc.
Create templates and let everyone use it. You don't need to be correct the first time. You need something to work on.

Check SWX setting, file locations, part number standard and get everyone on same page.
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- Daniel Melendez @ Frederick Law on Aug 14, 2018 2:48 PM
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  Thank you sir. I've got the rudimentary stuff down. But how do you get compliance from Engineers and drafters if there's no checker and they are super lazy when it come to modeling and drawing and any kinda standards?
  Almost rhetorical questions.
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  - Frederick Law @ Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018 2:55 PM
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    You need to work with them and see how they work now. Gather all the good stuff and put it together.
    A proper template will save time cause they don't need to keep changing settings like decimal points, dimension style, font size etc.
    Set it up with custom properties and you got all info in drawing without retyping.
    Get a common file management system and location, everyone can find files easily.
    Find out problems with current "system" and make improvement.
    Once you are on track and get support from most people, you can start cutting the weed if necessary.
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    - Daniel Melendez @ Frederick Law on Aug 14, 2018 3:03 PM
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      Exactly. They're all, we got standards. I'm like yeah each of you has your own standards on your own computer non-universal. I'm spending more time setting up prt, assy and dwg's than I am designing or making drawings, every time.
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      - Frederick Law @ Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018 3:09 PM
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        I guess the most important part is get support from upper management.
        Make sure they want the change. Without their support, you have no authority to do anything and nobody will listen.
        It is not just technical, its also political.
        Find out who want to make changes and get improvement. Find out who will resist. Work with them or deal with them accordingly.
        Sometime the right way is wrong when everyone around you don't want it.
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        Steve Calvert @ Frederick Law on Aug 14, 2018 3:20 PM
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        Kind of hard to get support from upper management when they don't see the absolute need to be on maintenance.
        
        Steve C
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        Frederick Law @ Steve Calvert on Aug 14, 2018 3:29 PM
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        It'll be a tough battle for a new guy on the job. Need to tread carefully.
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        Daniel Melendez @ Frederick Law on Aug 14, 2018 3:43 PM
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        Cool, yep the ultimate authority here wants the changes. The owner. So got that going.
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        Frederick Law @ Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018 3:58 PM
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        Get the story from everyone, owner, user, shop floor. Usually they all have their own idea how things are done and blame other for all the problems. You'll need to get through all the BS and find out what actually is the problem.
        
        For example, shop keep missing LH and RH parts. They say its confusing when LH and RH on same drawing. So we give them 2 drawings, LH and RH with QTY. They still make all same hand. Why? Part description didn't say LH or RH. Even there is bold red large font note on the drawing "LH shown 10 PCS". "Oh I don't look there." Aren't you supposed to read the whole drawing?!!!
        
        It will be fun.
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        Daniel Melendez @ Frederick Law on Aug 14, 2018 4:14 PM
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        Yeah it's gonna be a hoot. I did that on a smaller scale at the other place. I'm already familiarizing myself with the shop and it's current practices.
        Will have a eng group meeting when the word is handed down, then individually once the position is implemented.
        
        Lots of fun.
        
        Will keep ya'll apprised.
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Ruben Balderrama Aug 14, 2018 2:49 PM
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Use ISO 9001 or IATF 16949:2016 to has some structure files, ask to your VAR for some guides or E course and start...you can change everything that you need after.
https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/11/solidworks-pdm-standard-getting-started-guide/
https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/10/solidworks-pdm-standard/
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- Daniel Melendez @ Ruben Balderrama on Aug 14, 2018 3:04 PM
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  These are a good start. Unfortunately we won't be using the PDM right off. Plus no subscription service will make for it's own unique set of opportunities.
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  - Ruben Balderrama @ Daniel Melendez on Aug 14, 2018 3:22 PM
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    OK here you has some people you can see everything you need to start without PDM. (good rules to do able each thing)
    Dan Pihlaja       ANSI/ASME JIG
    Dennis Bacon   Sheet Metal
    Rob Edwards    Multibodies parts
    Igor Fomenko   Structural Member
    Deepak Gupta Api
    Paul Salvador   Surfaces
    I have some templates if you need it, open it, use it and modify as you need it to your company.
    I think Glenn Schroeder has some material to help you too.
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    - Daniel Melendez @ Ruben Balderrama on Aug 14, 2018 3:43 PM
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      Ruben thank you so much I will make the best of these.
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Matt Lombard Aug 14, 2018 4:29 PM
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Daniel Melendez
I'd like to invite you to my blog. We talk about a lot of CAD Admin type issues as well as other stuff, but your perspective would be welcome, and you might find some of the articles interesting.

CAD Management
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- Daniel Melendez @ Matt Lombard on Aug 14, 2018 4:54 PM
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  Thank you sir. I've got and have read a couple of your books.
  
  See you there.
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