3D CAD CAM TRAINING




Training is the most important step for the successful implementation of a CAD system.
For new installations, personnel selection and training success is critical because setbacks
may be very hard to overcome. Emphasis should be placed on building a solid level of
user expertise and confidence rather than production goals that will be difficult to
achieve.
After initial system set-up and training, productivity should pick up and will probably
approximate the production levels existing before CAD was introduced. However, many
times setbacks caused by loss of data, operator errors or lack of proficiency will clobber
productivity and frustrate management and the users. Causes of these setbacks must be
determined and corrected. Each problem encountered should be used to represent a selfteaching
opportunity.
Operators have the tendency to use familiar commands instead of trying to learn new and
faster ways to do their work. The task will usually fall on the manager to identify
operations that can be accomplished more productively and to research and develop new
methods to be used.
Training should include:
>Initial training for new operators as well as on-going training for experienced users
>Cross-training within the group. It is particularly important that all CAD personnel
help new members of the group learn efficient techniques and procedures
>Regular meetings for the purpose of demonstrating new commands, programs,
menus, or other time-saving techniques
>Documentation of specific programs and procedures to enable the personnel to find
and use them easily
>Personnel must develop their own problem-solving abilities. Therefore they must be
assigned challenging responsibilities.
As training is not just a one-time activity, we provide the following checklist of training
activities:
>Every new user must be given a regular course of instruction in how to use CAD
software. A user moving from 2D to 3D must also receive a course. Courses can be
bought from the vendors or, in case of large companies, they can take place in-house.
>Training must be provided with new releases. Usually this is a short training (one
day the most)
>The team must hold productivity meetings at least every two weeks, where new
procedures, bugs, etc. can be discussed
>Develop WEB site for each CAD SW brand. On it post
>Company procedures
>Answers to frequently asked questions
>Ways to overcome known software bugs
>Bug reporting form
>Attend user group meeting and have a report from them
>One person must be assigned to develop and document design-automation tools
specific to company procedures
>Budget for training and productivity-building activities.

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