Effective Management of CAD Systems

Abstract

The aim of this report was to determine to what extent architectural practices manage the operation of their CAD systems and how well their CAD system management compares to recommended methods in this field. The research was conducted by face to face interview with a selection of practioners in the Wellington area who were known to be operating CAD systems. The results of the interviews indicate that there is a diverse range of management procedures that applied to the operation of CAD systems. These procedures show scope for improvement and no doubt this will occur as practices become more familiar with their systems. The conclusions reached by this survey were: a) The majority of practices are operating Autocad software. b) The way management procedures had been implemented varied with small practices often showing a very casual approach in this area. All practices need to have a disciplined and considered approach to how their system will be operated. This will make future development far easier. c) Practices, and in particular systems managers need to make themselves more aware of what is recommended and what has been shown to be successful in areas of systems management. d) Selection of personnel and training procedures that have been adopted by practices compare favourably with the recommendations. e) Few practices were found to be actively promoting the use of their CAD systems. This is an area where careful development could be undertaken. f) The suggested model of CAD system management could be questioned as to it's validity in application to small architectural CAD installations. However if the recommended management procedures are implemented then the system will expand and uses will develop as they are required without the need for major changes to the operational structure. g) Time and money must be budgeted for development and training purposes and a general familiarity with the capability of the CAD system is required. It is my opinion that partners and directors of architectural practices need to make themselves fully aware of what their CAD system can and cannot do and what they really want it to do. Once pratice managers have clear and positive goals and a disciplined CAD management procedure in place their staff will be far more able to achieve the successes envisaged.