CAD Manager Qualifications

[noochstyle]

I work for a developer (keep your angry fist waving to yourself) and we constantly have changes. I am talking serious modifications, and we build as we design. This leads to drawings being changed and re-issued on a day to day basis. In fact most weeks I will design and re-design spaces so often that I issue almost 10 drawings a week. In addition to that we have an IT team who is totally oblivious to CAD. We consist of one in house architect and an assistant who does some drawing for her as well as managing an FTP of drawings for our multiple sites. We use many consultants and constantly have to review there work and modify as necessary to compensate for coordination and architectural changes. Our in house MEP of which I am the E consists of (2) other engineers and (2) designers. I do my own CAD and our (2) designers do the FP, P, M. We are relatively new (our engineering department) and have no standards in place at all. We have all brought bits and pieces of standards and many bad habits. I am trying to standardize our drawings, but my boss is also looking at me to find a CAD manager to coordinate our standards, enforce them, and develop them as necessary. Is it uncommon to find a CAD guy that is in IT as well. I am an engineer I spent a few years in IT, but I am only two years out of college and have enough on my plate with my Electrical Design work that I can’t be worrying about managing all of our CAD needs. What credentials should be looked for in finding a suitable CAD Manager? Am I looking for something that doesn’t exist? My boss insists he can find someone who has a master in computer science and years of CAD experience. Unfortunately he tells me I am the one to find this person?

Basically all that I am looking for are what professional qualifications make for a good CAD manager that would be reasonable for an office of our size/type?

[ReMark]

I think one qualification for a good CAD manager is someone who has been in the trenches and has worked his/her way up through the ranks to lead/manage a CAD department.

If your boss's candidate of choice requires a master's degree in computer science and CAD experience I think the pickings will be slim and the associated salary/compensation package will be high.

For what makes a good CAD manager you might want to take a look at CADalyst Magazine. They run a monthly feature named CADmanager. Dig back through the archives to the first issue that carried this feature and if you're lucky they asked the same question.

[LElkins]

Professional qualifications for a CAD Manager?
Using only myself as a reference, qualifications in the form of a piece of paper are as good as a glass hammer.

I have no qualifications what-so-ever, except for GCSE (high school education aged 16). I have been working for 4 years, and I am now a CAD Manager of a reasonable sized architecture practice in the UK.

The main things to look for are a very high level of knowledge of CAD and related applications. The candidate does not necessarily have to be an expert at every application, providing that they can understand it. Also, again for me, having a great passion for what they do is a must. A CAD Manager must be self motivated as they will be constantly researching industry developments, and more often than not performing tasks that would otherwise be very tedious if you were not passionate about it.

In addition to drafting packages, a CAD Manager should obviously have very good people skills, problem solving skills and an understanding of what the user requires, which can only be gained through working his/her way up.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Alan Cullen]

Well, ****. Now I've seen everything.

[NBC]

...I have been working for 4 years, and I am now a CAD Manager...

The main things to look for are a very high level of knowledge of CAD and related applications....

... which can only be gained through working his/her way up.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Please forgive the obvious but how on earth do you manage to attain (to quote your words) "a very high level of knowledge of CAD" in 4 years ?

I would presume that the main reason you are in the position that you are in at the moment, is because nobody else wanted that role, and that you yourself are highly malleable to the person who you report to.

I'm sure you are more than adequate at your job, but it irks me that you have only been in the 'game' for 4 years and you profess you know what it takes already. Sorry mate, but get real.

[NBC]

Well, ****. Now I've seen everything.

Sorry Alan, I clearly felt the need to elaborate on your words.

[LElkins]

Whatever your opinions may be, and as vocal as you are. I have probably spent as much time with CAD in 4 years, as most of you have in 20.

And as for saying I am in the job because nobody else wanted it, I can tell you, I have recently joined my current practice, after receiving 5 very attractive offers, from some of the largest practices in the country, after going through interview process with many other CAD Managers with far more years experience.

And relying on the person I answer to, well, in a manner of speaking, no.

Although I should rightly be p****d off with your narrow minded response, I pity you as it is evident that you fear you are losing touch.

May I ask, how is it that you came to be a CAD Manager, if that is what you are? Rather than being given the job, I knew very early what I wanted to be and worked very hard to get there. Rather than spending my spare time growing a beer gut, or watching some mind-numbing tv, I researched, and practiced.

So, for a closing point, years are but a number, experience is vital, and the 2 are wholely unrelated. If you spend 20 years getting 'experience', you likely spent half of that doing it wrong.

[NBC]

We are each entitled to our own opinion.
I know my own mind, and those around me do too.
I fear nothing in this world, life is too short.
I work to live, not live to work.

Also, I don't visit this forum to justify myself, I come here to help others who seem to be in need of help.
From your post above, your back must be really sore, the amount of slapping you just gave it. Well done.

[LElkins]

Same here, I work to live. Fortunately, I enjoy what I do and have an interest in it outside of the working life.
I know what I want in 12 months time, 5 years time, 10 years time, etc. and if I have to make some sacrifices, such as not wasting countless hours in the pub, then so be it.

As I asked, do you care to describe the details of you getting in to CAD management?

Or are you feeling a little silly now?

And as you will see if you care to look through the threads, I am also here to help others and not justify myself.

It is no wonder that CAD Managers have a bad name, when people are dealing with w***ers like you. As old as you, or any of the others on here may be, if you are scared of becoming redundant, then maybe you should grow up a bit. Everyone has to start somewhere, so don't hate me for my achievements.

[NBC]

Nope, I'm not feeling silly, in the slightest; nor do I wish to be involved in some form of diatribal slanging match.

I got into CAD Management because I know I have lots of knowledge and wanted to pass that onto others. From that mindset, things developed many moons ago, I have set up numerous CAD departments at companies in the northwest of England, and on mainland Europe.
Notwithstanding all the associated works involved with CAD departments such as budgeting, training, standards, QA documentation etc.
Yes, I have a passion about all this too, I just prefer to show it in different ways.

[LElkins]

Nope, I'm not feeling silly, in the slightest; nor do I wish to be involved in some form of diatribal slanging match.

I got into CAD Management because I know I have lots of knowledge and wanted to pass that onto others. From that mindset, things developed many moons ago, I have set up numerous CAD departments at companies in the northwest of England, and on mainland Europe.
Notwithstanding all the associated works involved with CAD departments such as budgeting, training, standards, QA documentation etc.
Yes, I have a passion about all this too, I just prefer to show it in different ways.

OK so you have described what you have done. But seeing how you took it upon yourself to comment on how I may (never mind that you were wrong) got into my position, please enlighten us on how you got yours.

So budgeting, tick, training, tick, standards, tick, QA documentation, tick. All of which is part of a CAD Managers role, and tasks which I have done at various companies. Sorry to ruin another point which you thought you may belittle me with.

[NBC]

I shall leave this discussion now, before it gets uglier and warnings are issued.

I answered your questions, my answers were not meant to belittle you

[LElkins]

I shall leave this discussion now, before it gets uglier and warnings are issued.

I answered your questions, my answers were not meant to belittle you

I in know way want things to turn ugly either. But come on, have a little guts, you commented about how I must have it because there wasn't anyone else. So please, how did you get your first CAD Manager role?

[NBC]

I got my first CAD Manager role by taking it upon myself to set up a CAD department over 15 years ago. Before I did that the company did all drawings on drawing boards. Within 1 year the whole company nationwide had migrated to CAD.
All because I saw a computer in the corner of the room gathering dust. I decided I would teach myself during lunchtimes and after hours at work each day. Within 2 weeks I had learnt enough to produce adequate quality drawings. Within 2 months I had set up another workstation after my boss at the time was so impressed with it.
Need any more info ?

[LElkins]

I got my first CAD Manager role by taking it upon myself to set up a CAD department over 15 years ago. Before I did that the company did all drawings on drawing boards. Within 1 year the whole company nationwide had migrated to CAD.
All because I saw a computer in the corner of the room gathering dust. I decided I would teach myself during lunchtimes and after hours at work each day. Within 2 weeks I had learnt enough to produce adequate quality drawings. Within 2 months I had set up another workstation after my boss at the time was so impressed with it.
Need any more info ?

OK. So basically what you are saying is that you got the job because there wasn't anyone else doing it....interesting, now I know why you didn't initially answer.

Not to that extent because most practices now have CAD departments so I didn't have that sort of opportunity, but I have also trained and setup die-hard drawing board users who have never used a computer, how to use CAD/ADT. I have also setup 'cad departments' for associates who have decided to start up on their own so what makes you think you have a right to judge me and my abilities without knowing anything about me or the situation I have been in?

[Penfold]

Lelkins, I'd say your a nightmare to work for!

[LElkins]

and why would that be?

[NBC]

what makes you think you have a right to judge...

the right to free speech.
wind yer neck in mate, you're making yourself look like a wally,

[LElkins]

the right to free speech.
wind yer neck in mate, you're making yourself look like a wally,
I'm making myself look like a wally? After you are the 1 who jumped to conclusions, and I have purely explained myself and why I deserve where I am.

Free speach is fine by me, but judging and publicly commenting and making innacurate statements about me, well, thats just slander.

[NBC]

so sue me :)

it's only slander if it is proven to be incorrect.
your responses on this thread give the impression otherwise.

[f700es]

Well, it not impossible. I too was thrust onto the "CAD manager" role early in life as well. I graduated college in '96 and was soon after working in the CAD department for a local university hospital Facilities Planning department. 10 months after being hired my CAD manager quit and my boss gave me his job. I was over 2 other guys 15 years my senior. Sure a small CAD department but I was in charge of the CAD files and drawings for the hospital with over 5 million Sq Ft. Was I an expert? Hell no but I was the best available.

[LElkins]

so sue me :)

it's only slander if it is proven to be incorrect.
your responses on this thread give the impression otherwise.

I have now grown bored of you. You have proven yourself to be an opinionated, narrow minded old fool.

Merry christmas.

[Alan Cullen]

LElkins,

Drop it.

You are already getting members offside. So just let it go.

Concentrate on helping others, and not promoting yourself.

[NBC]

I think this hit the nail on the head:



Was I an expert? Hell no but I was the best available.

Great answer f700es. Somebody with some humility who recognises they don't know everything.
Something LEl (should be LOL ?) does not give the impression he has that ability just yet.

[LElkins]

LElkins,

Drop it.

You are already getting members offside. So just let it go.

Concentrate on helping others, and not promoting yourself.

I believe that is what I did.
But as I said early, I believe I also have a right to defend myself when slanderous comments are being made.

[NBC]

If I am narrow minded, what does that make you ? Stephen Hawkins ? :D:D:D

Not had such a laugh in all of today !

[ReMark]

I think there are many of us who found ourselves called "managers" simply because we were in the right place, at the right time, and had an early sense of what CAD could be and jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak. With a keen interest in desk-top computers when they came upon the scene and likewise in AutoCAD (v1.2) I was hooked. Couple this with a thirst for knowledge and I was soon propelled into a managerial position. Having a strong "on-the-board" background sure helped too.

How many years does one have to be working "in the field" to become qualified as a manager? Who knows? Each of us are different and we came to be where we are today by different paths. We should be celebrating our good fortune for getting into CAD rather than picking each other apart for how we got there.

[ReMark]

noochstyle:

If you visit the AUGI Forums you'll find one called CAD Management. Some of the topics of interest that are covered are CAD Management-general, standards, training and education just to name a few. Membership is free. A simple sign up process gains access. Visit:

www.augi.com (http://www.augi.com)

[Lazer]

Can I just remind everyone this is a Cad forum, I have just been reading this thread and I have to say sounds more like a playground squabble, please keep to the topic in hand.:( Closed thread.