In one of my earlier articles titled, "Gaining the Co-operation of your Staff" I described how the role of "Cad Manager" evolved. It was a case of something going wrong and then someone saying, "Go ask Pat, s/he knows the cad system and can tell you how we do things here." Pat was officially given the title of "CAD Manager" and promised to be allowed some extra time for him/her to manage the CAD system and the people who use it. However, the free time did not materialize sufficiently and the "Management" aspect was restricted to purely technical issues taken care of in conjunction with regular design work. "Cad Managers" acceded to this role because they were the most technically knowledgeable people on staff. The role was not a planned one, the title was probably never assigned specifically, nor were objectives or job descriptions really defined.
 
Today, firms running 5 or more cad stations have recognized that the savings accrued from employing a Cad Manager devoted full time to cad management duties will outweigh the cost of maintaining the position. So "Cad Manager" is now a recognized job title and a job position to be filled. There have been few training programs available, and there is little in the way of a de facto curriculum for training cad managers. Where can you get an experienced "Cad Manager" and if you are looking for one,

a) what are the distinct objectives for your Cad Manager position, and
b) What exactly is the job description that defines your Cad Manager's duties, and
c) what standard of service can you expect from a candidate for your "Cad Manager" position?

Based on my experience and from the feedback I get from clients, here's my take on this.

Objectives

The distinct objective is to manage the efficiency of your system, deal with the technical problems with the cad software, reduce bottlenecks and improve the work flow, maintain a standard of quality, reduce stress, improve employee moral, deliver consistent and accurate drawings, deliver them on time, increase drawing production, increase revenues, and "institutionalize" a company system such that it becomes a valuable company asset.

That's a mouthful, but I doubt that any business owner will either be interested in, or able to understand an objective composed of the technical specifics on managing your cad system. And although applicants need to be experienced in using cad, they aren't going to have received business and people skills from any cad training program. Your objective is to fill this position with someone who has business and people skills foremost, and who is also trained and proficient in using Cad. Let's consider a job description for your cad manager position.

Job Description, Duties, and Qualifications

Performance: - This is the same as your defined objective

Duties:
 
- Resolve all technical problems concerning the implementation, operation, and upgrading of the cad software

- Keep apprised of currently available software solutions and new technology

- Monitor the effectiveness of the drawing process and recommend systemic improvements
 
- Monitor productivity and identify losses and inefficiencies

 
- Define, document, maintain, and enforce standards of quality

- Define, document, and maintain control systems for managing workloads, scheduling, and delivery of
drawings
 
- Perform a re-assessment of cad standards, predefined setups, and operational procedures every 12
months
 
- Work with staff to define, document, manage, and upgrade cad standards and procedures every 12
months
 
- Be responsible for standards compliance and productivity
 
- Maintain an up to date Company Cad Systems Manual documenting the entire system in a manner that can be understood, taken over, and maintained by any substitute professional as required on occasion.

Qualifications:

Education,
Diploma or degree in business, project management, or effective supervision
Diploma or training in the use of the cad software

Work Experience,
Proven successes in a managerial capacity
Minimum 5 years experience using your cad software
Good people skills

Candidates Available to Fill the Position

This is tough because every person with cad management experience was self taught and the candidate's knowledge is based on and has stemmed from the time the technology was implemented at his/her last place of work. The practice last employed was based upon the technology that was available when the cad software was first implemented at that firm. Every firm has implemented the cad software at different stages in technology, and almost all of the standards of practice are behind the times and obsolete.

What's more, you are dealing with productivity issues using new and emerging technology ongoing. The technology at the last place of work may have been based on obsolete technology and methodology. What you want is to employ your own ingenuity defining the best processes for your field of practice using the latest technology in an ever changing world. You want to stay on the leading edge and compete with or better your competitors.
 
There has not been a standard of understanding (know how) to qualify a Cad Manager's knowledge and expertise. It is inevitable that your systems will tend to be changed to conform with the system managed by the Cad Manager at his/her last place of work. Beyond paying the cost of a new Cad Manager to implement major changes, there could be disruptions in efficiency among your staff having to get accustomed to and use what the new cad manager implements.
 
Recommendations

I recommend that you fill your Cad Manager position from someone already working at your firm, one who knows your existing system but is not so attached to it that he/she will not see things objectively. This should be an existing staff member known to have good managerial and people skills, and cad experience. Furthermore, it may be easier and safer to find a replacement for the existing job than it is to find that nebulous "Cad Manager" from outside the firm.

Barrie Mathews is president of  Softco Engineering Systems Inc., .