iCommuniqué is a monthly newsletter read by thousands of subscribers worldwide. This electronic publication is a great resource for news and information about IMAGINiT Technologies, Autodesk®, AutoCAD®, and related software.
IMAGINiT Technologies has joined forces with Autodesk to help entrepreneurs in the clean tech space accelerate their products to market. Through the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program, Autodesk is providing early stage clean tech companies in the US and Canada with software grants to aid in the development of products aimed at solving some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
Autodesk announced it has entered into a long-term OEM licensing agreement with Intergraph® to embed Intergraph ISOGEN® technology in Autodesk's AutoCAD® Plant 3D 2010 product. With tens of thousands of users worldwide, Intergraph ISOGEN is the leading software application for automatic production of piping isometrics and bills of materials.
I recall one of the first times I provided training for the small CAD department of a local manufacturing company. The company's two CAD users were amazed as I showed them the power of Trim and Extend commands to clean up drawings. They had no idea the commands existed; until then, they had time-consumingly adjusted lines in their drawings manually.
The incident illustrates how CAD is used inefficiently when drafters are insufficiently trained. The CAD software is initially easy to start with, but then drafting efficiently becomes an issue. Over and over again I have heard users tell me they lack the time to learn to use the software properly, because they are too busy using it.
This is a paradox that must be solved by management, for if drafters learn to use CAD more efficiently, then management benefits from the lowered cost-per-drawing as drawings are completed more quickly.
One solution is to schedule weekly in-house CAD training sessions during the lunch hour, with management providing lunch free-of-charge as compensation for "working" during the lunch break.
Another efficiency solution is to tailor training to the needs of each user. This ensures time is not wasted by drafters learning material with which they are already familiar. To customize the learning, tests are applied that evaluate each user's CAD knowledge -- or lack thereof. It's important that training be tailored to the tasks users actually carry out, but in which they are not yet efficient.
Training is, unfortunately, wasted when users are unable to retain the content of the lessons. To overcome this barrier, it can be helpful to implement shortened train-employ cycles, where users are trained in one new technique, and then are able to immediately implement it in their everyday drafting.
Training helps employees complete their work in less time -- or produce more drawings in the same time. Either way, training is an investment that pays off.
Ralph Grabowski is editor at upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd., including the WorldCAD Access blog. Ralph is the author of over 100 books and several hundred magazine articles about computer-aided design.
IMAGINiT Technologies offers several training options, and is Autodesk's largest Authorized Training Center partner.
IMAGINiT Technologies Canada, Autodesk 2009 Reseller of the Year, has been chosen by Autodesk as one of the select value added resellers to sell the AutoCAD® P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) software solution.
With this latest authorization, IMAGINiT has become the sole authorized channel for the AutoCAD P&ID product within Canada and is positioned to make available an end-to-end set of solutions for its Plant Design clients.
Autodesk announced the results of a new study that found productivity gains of up to 63 percent when engineers and designers use AutoCAD 2010 software for common design and documentation tasks. The study, conducted by Cambashi Limited, an independent consulting and analyst firm, compares the time it takes to complete specific tasks using AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD 2007 software.
From November 2, 2009 through January 15, 2010, clients who purchase qualifying new commercial licenses of AutoCAD® 2010 software may be eligible for a rebate of up to US$500 for each new license purchased after submitting an online request and providing proof of license purchase documentation. This offer is limited to a maximum of five (5) seats total per customer invoice address.
Autodesk® Subscription customers get access to Autodesk® Subscription Advantage Packs that include the latest Autodesk software technology. Subscription Advantage Packs are now available for download and include new features, specialized functionality, and powerful tools that help extend the capabilities of your Autodesk 2010 software. If you haven't installed your Autodesk 2010 software yet, now is the time to make the transition as Subscription Advantage Packs are compatible only with 2010 releases.
Products with Subscription Advantage Packs available include:
You may download Subscription Advantage Packs directly from the Information Center within certain Autodesk 2010 products, or sign in to the Autodesk Subscription Center to access.
The report is a summary of a survey that was given to approximately 3,000 architects, engineers, contractors, and business owners across the United States and Canada. See the results of BIM adoption, usage, impact and infrastructure, and review case studies and interviews.
Please welcome Jeff Morrow as the new author of the IMAGINiT Civil Solutions Blog. Jeff, a senior civil and geospatial consultant with IMAGINIT, has over thirty years experience in the mining and engineering sectors.
We have also upgraded our blogging system for all our blog sites. The new site allows for comments, track backs, a better archival system, and category searching.
IMAGINiT Technologies has just completed a four city "Design Green" roadshow, an initiative intended to bring together industry thought leaders and principals and partners in leading architectural firms. We've published some photos from the Pacific Northwest events.
