CAD Standards implementation

The extent and depth of CAD standardization implementation can vary upon the company’s goals and prospects to reorganize the working process. It may be comprehensive or oriented on just a specific area, i.e. block library. Both approaches have the following benefits and disadvantages:
For best results a complete approach is the most optimal solution. Such thorough approach to standardize the working process leads to better solutions, more automatization and greater productivity. However, more standards, new drawing routines and new knowledge require more diligence for the employees. Full Cad standards implementation also presents a bigger investment at once instead of financing it step by step.
Cad standards can be divided into different stages of implementation. All or just a single one can be applied. Employees usually find it easier to pick up new knowledge and working routines, if implementation is applied stage by stage. An installment investment can also be easier to carry out than a larger onetime cost.  However, if all stages of implementation aren’t determined in advance, some of the already applied standards might change or need to adapt to the upgraded working process.
Company review
Each implementation phase requires a thorough review of the company, their working process and assessment of employees’ CAD knowledge and skills. The extent of Cad standards implementation, its stages and investment costs are determined after focusing on critical points in the process and suggestions for improvement.
Workspace
Customized user interface offers a quicker access to tools which reflects in better focus on the project and fluent workflow.
File and folders management
File naming and storage policies are important for easier and quicker file management of single or many employees working on the same project. Cad standards determine guidelines in structuring folders, file naming, file archives, purging and safety precautions.
Drawing template
Drawing template can include a lot of predefined settings. These are adjusted to meet the company’s needs and systematization. Some of the most common drawing template settings:
- Settings for precise drawing,
- Predefined styles (Text Style, Dimension Style, etc.)
- Layouts and Plot settings,
- Layer list, filters or states, etc.
Using drawing templates saves a lot of time. Designers can immediately start on a project without having the need to adjust all of the drawing settings. Consistency on all drawings design is kept, if all co-workers use the same drawing template and the same settings.
Organizing layers
Standardized layer naming and grouping saves time in drawing preparation and improve coordination. Everyone on the project knows where to look for the required information and easily manage the display of required drawings.
Styles consistency
All style settings (Text, Dimension, Table, Linetypes, etc.) that define the final graphic design of drawings are predefined. They are ready to use for plotting in all predefined plotting scales. If everyone involved on the project uses the same settings, the consistency of drawing design will be kept.

Block Libraries
Organizing block libraries depends upon the status of existing libraries in the company. In case company is missing libraries, blocks can be created from scratch. If blocks already exist in separate drawing files, they could be optimized, purged, unified and layer checked for undisturbed use in drawings. Experience often showed that blocks aren’t defined properly. They usually tag along a lot of useless information that disturb fluent work and enlarge file size. Once all blocks are gathered, it is best to organize them on Tool palettes libraries. Here they are just a mouse click away from the insertion.
Dynamic Blocks
Dynamic blocks are a part of the automatisation process. On the contrary from rigid traditional blocks, they are flexible to manipulate. Depending on their creation, dynamic blocks can be stretched non-uniformly, arrayed, aligned with object, change visibility, etc. Using just grips to manipulate them, you don’t even have to use any modify commands. Dynamic blocks are also an excellent way to reduce and organize block libraries on Tool Palettes. Merging blocks of the same kind into just one dynamic block will reduce clicking and searching through libraries.
Extract data
Extracting data from objects in drawings is one of the most time consuming stages on the projects. Some firms even hire full-time employees to collect data from drawings. However, combining geometry with attributes and fields into a block, such data can be extracted from drawing automatically within just a few clicks. Such procedures can be standardized and a lot of time saved.
Plotting
With short deadlines, plotting drawings can be a quite stressful phase of the project. A lot of plotting settings, such as layouts, title blocks, pen assignments, etc. can already be defined in company’s drawing template and save some additional time. Title blocks can be automated so that one data input updates automatically in all title blocks within the same drawing. Numerous layouts or drawing files can be send to plotter automatically.
Collaboration
When working together with external collaborators, good communication is crucial for response time efficiency, accurate and up-to-date data exchange. There are many ways to establish such dialog (x-references, Autodesk 360, real time collaboration, etc.). It all depends on the company’s system and requirements.
Automatisation as custom programming
Some procedures in the drawing process are repetitive and automating them can save some time. Sequence of used commands can be conjoined into one single mouse click. More specific tasks may require a more professional programming and upgrading software.
Training courses and Certification
The success of Cad standards implementation depends also on the employees’ knowledge of software. Individual assessment of such knowledge has proved many times to be very subjective and overvalued. Therefore, it is important to examine the current knowledge of employees and upgrade it to the level of knowledge needed to follow Cad standards. Training can be included as a part of the standardization implementation. As Autodesk authorized training and certification center our company offers high quality training courses as well as certifications for Autodesk software.
Additional information
What are CAD standards?
Success of CAD standards
CAD standards references