Interscale Content Hub – If you want your design-focused business in the AEC industry to run smoothly, you need to get your CAD data management best practices in the right roadmap.
If you manage your CAD files well, you can be sure they’re organized, accessible, and secure. This makes workflows easier, reduces errors, and saves time and resources.
But if you don’t manage your data right, you could end up with some costly mistakes, delays, and lost productivity.
Jim Brown in his study says that engineers waste up to 15% of their time on non-value-added tasks like searching for files and managing data complexity. This directly impacts project timelines and productivity.
Before too far, For CAD historical reference, you can read “The Evolution of CAD: From 2D to 3D Modeling (& Why You Should Care).”
Key Components of Effective CAD Data Management
Good CAD data management is key to boosting engineering productivity and cutting down on non-value-added time, as Jim Brown showed in his study, “Reduce Wasted Time in CAD Design.”
At its heart, good CAD data management relies on a few key things that make the design process easier and keep files safe.
A central data repository is the one and only place to find all CAD data. This means that everyone on the team—from architects and engineers to contractors—can access the most up-to-date versions of files, which helps to avoid confusion and reduce errors.
Good file naming conventions are the backbone of an organized data management system. They’re like signposts that help you find the right file quickly and easily.
A good naming scheme might include the project name, discipline, file type, and revision number.
For instance, a file called “Skytower_Arch_FloorPlan_Rev3.dwg” makes it easy to find and understand what it’s about. It shows what project, discipline, type, and revision status it is.
Then, think about version control as the historian of your CAD data. With version control, you can easily go back to the point where the error was introduced and fix it, saving you time and resources.
Version control tracks changes to files over time, so you can easily restore previous versions.
In a collaborative environment, access control might let architects edit architectural models while giving engineers read-only access. This way, only those with the right permissions can make changes.
Finally, backups are your insurance policy against data loss. They keep your valuable CAD data safe from hardware failures, accidental deletions, or other unexpected things.
A reliable recovery process means you can quickly get your data back if you need it, which means less downtime and fewer costly setbacks.
Best Practices for CAD Data Management
If you want to make sure your design workflows run smoothly and that your data is always up to date, it’s a good idea to implement the best practices for CAD data management.
We can learn more about this in PRO.FILE by PROCAD’s white paper, “CAD Data Management Needs Integrated Item Management.”
One of the most important things to do is to manage items together. By linking CAD data with item management systems, companies can make sure that data flows smoothly and that they can keep track of what’s dependent on what.
This integration makes all product-related info readily available, which helps boost efficiency.
Design departments often use different CAD tools, so it’s important to have multi-CAD capabilities.
A solid management system should be able to handle all these different tools, bringing all the data together in one place.
This approach makes data management easier and helps teams work together more effectively, ensuring everyone has access to the same accurate information.
Another important thing to remember is to start slowly and gradually implement the new system.
Starting with a basic system that can be expanded over time lets companies meet the demands of digitalization without overwhelming their resources.
This phased approach lets companies gradually enhance their capabilities towards full PDM/PLM functionality, aligning with their evolving needs.
Automating processes in CAD data management helps cut down on manual data entry and synchronization errors.
For instance, automating the transfer of data between CAD and ERP systems means that production teams always have access to the latest, validated product information.
This makes things more accurate and more efficient, so engineers can focus more on coming up with new ideas and designs instead of spending time on admin tasks.
Benefits of Effective CAD Data Management
Good CAD data management can really help you get more done, cut down on mistakes, and make it easier for different teams to work together.
One of the main perks is that it boosts productivity. With streamlined workflows and easy access to data, team members can spend less time searching for files and resolving conflicts, which lets them focus more on design work.
Siemens backs up this efficiency with a case study in “Tech-Clarity Perspective: Best Practices for Managing Design Data.”
The case study shows that top-performing companies spend 25% less time on non-productive data management tasks, which increases overall productivity.
So yes, good data management can save you money. It can help you avoid having to do extra work, keep your data safe, and make better use of your resources.
These savings can really make a difference to the bottom line by making projects more efficient and cutting down on overall operational costs.
Another great thing about this is that it helps to reduce errors. Centralized data and version control help to avoid wasting time and resources on reworking outdated or incorrect files.
Centralized data and clear access controls make it easier for team members to work together effectively, both within and outside the organization.
You have got some pretty tight security on the data, with strict access controls, regular backups, and recovery processes.
These measures keep sensitive data safe from unauthorized access and loss, so you can be sure that your design information is kept confidential and intact.
Advanced Strategies for CAD Data Management
If you’re looking to improve your CAD data management, integrating with PLM systems is a great way to manage the whole product lifecycle.
This integration makes it easier to keep track of design changes and make sure everyone has the latest information.
For reference about CAD intergration, kindly read “Cheat Sheet of Workflow: Integrating CAD with Other Business Systems.”
Using automation tools for things like file organization, version control, and backups means less manual work and more reliability, so data management stays consistent and accurate.
Cloud-based solutions are great for scalability, remote access, and enhanced collaboration. They make it easy for distributed teams to share and update data in real time.
Linking up all the different pieces of product information with dependency knowledge management makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. It also helps you manage complex product data and make better decisions.
These strategies not only make things run more smoothly but also boost productivity and cut down on mistakes, which means big savings for the company.
Get Supporting System in CAD Data Management Best Practices
At Interscale, we know that good CAD data management is key to getting AEC projects off the ground.
Our solutions are designed to help you get the most out of your data, making sure it’s organized, accessible, and secure.
Take Ewert Leaf, for instance. We helped them use technology to make their workflows more efficient and get better results.
By combining CAD data management with other systems and processes, we can help you work more efficiently, avoid mistakes, and collaborate better.
If you want to know more about how we can help you use CAD data management best practices, just visit Interscale CAD/BIM Management Service page or get in touch with us today.
Conclusion
By using the best practices like structured file systems, standard naming conventions, and strong version control, companies can really make the most of their CAD data.
Plus, integrating with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and using cloud-based solutions can take data management to the next level.
If you embrace these CAD data management best practices and use expert solutions, you’ll see a big improvement in project outcomes and overall efficiency.
