CAD Standards

every organization, there is a unique situation to be considered.

How To Develop An Acceptable Cad Standard

The development of CAD standards is a tricky road to travel. The process will require input from people at all levels within an organization. The key word here is people. Ultimately, what you develop will be used by coworkers and put under a microscope by management; all are people. Failing to take into account the interests of everyone will lead to the unacceptance of your work by someone. This is a recipe for failure, even before you get started.

The working environment in which you attempt to establish any standard will drive your efforts and, therefore, the ultimate success or failure thereof.

The corporate mindset of my previous employers has significantly influenced my current approach to developing CAD standards and their attempts at implementation. I say attempts because I have seen many previous approaches which never developed a well-designed and accepted CAD standard. I am not saying that these companies have not made several solid attempts to do so. The results have been less than ideal for many reasons, however.

I want to be able to tell you just how to set up your corporate CAD standard, regardless of your organization’s culture. It will never happen. For

As a CAD manager, having been active in discussions with others in the field, I have heard many stories of failure and success. When I would bring the subject up to an employer, the interest from anyone above my level (Joe/Susie, average CAD operator) was nil.

Eventually, the right people became interested in the fact that their existing documentation was not