Career Archives - Page 7 of 11

Twitter chatter on Monday’s article about using ASME

The article from last Monday entitled To what extent should a company comply with ASME standards on their drawings? generated a fair amount of Twitter chatter. Here’s my rather vane attempt to organize these interesting discussions to share.

@fcsuper: To what extent should a company comply with ASME standards on their drawings? http://goo.gl/fb/7jkqF #solidworks

@SeanDotson: @fcsuper Well said. We “tweak” it to fit our needs as well. [link]

@DevonSowell: @fcsuper comply with ASME? 100% but none do, 13 yrs 44 clients, haven’t see any comply or come close, Mil contractors the closest [link]

@DevonSowell: @fcsuper same client ” I want the minimum amount of Engineering to make and ship our products” [link]

@Edsonius: @DevonSowell @fcsuper some clients don’t want change so compliance from what they’re used to doing means spending $ to be current=#ignorance [link]

@fcsuper: @SeanDotson I cover that tweaking briefly in my #sww11 presentation too. Opened some eyes, I think. [link]

@fcsuper: @DevonSowell those clients may or may not pay more in the long run. It really is about finding min necessary for some companies. [link]

@solidmuse: @DevonSowell @fcsuper If we had to comply with ASME 100% we would be out of business. It is that simple for many companies. [link]

@fcsuper: @Edsonius @DevonSowell i am seeing a move towards compliance, but many smaller companies (who mite benefit most) don’t understand value [link]

@JeffSweeney: @fcsuper It is harder for them to get and see the ROI [link]

@fcsuper: @solidmuse @DevonSowell what areas of #amse do u find burdensome. [link]

@fcsuper: @JeffSweeney yup…I know that from experience. [link]

@Edsonius: @fcsuper @DevonSowell value comes with the cost of being bit on the buttocks (for u @SteveOstrovsky) ‘cuz of non-compliance – #changeishard [link]

@DevonSowell: @solidmuse @fcsuper If we had to comply with ASME 100%… I agree Anna, so do my customers [link]

@DevonSowell: @fcsuper @solidmuse what areas of #amse do u find burdensome, me none. My clients don’t see the value of compliance, and I see their point [link]

@SteveOstrovsky: @Edsonius @fcsuper @DevonSowell Here here. We don’t need any non-compliant buttocks walking around. [link]

@fcsuper: @DevonSowell @solidmuse I am curious what u thought cuz I know #solidworks is not 100% compliant w/ #ASME [link]

@DevonSowell: @fcsuper @solidmuse #solidworks is not 100% compliant w/ #ASME it should offer that, don’t you think? [link]

@fcsuper: @DevonSowell u’d think that should be something they’d want. [link]

ADDA’s Annual Technical & Educational Conference

The American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) is hosting its 52^nd Annual Technical & Educational Conference in Kansas City, MO on April 12-15, 2011. ADDA is heavily focused on the professions of drafting, design, and graphics. ADDA has a certification program for drafters (mechanical and architectural), civil design drafters, design technicians, and digital designers (which include imaging and editing). Not everyone has heard of ADDA, and that may be intentional. Olen Parker, Executive Director, states,

It [ADDA] is small, yet sets the stage for many changes within the profession. We don’t make noise, we don’t promote ourselves, we are the best kept secret in the profession. ADDA is very involved in the standards and regulations related to our industry.

Best kept secret? Well, maybe not anymore. 🙂 Parker also mentioned that ADDA made final reviews to ASME Y14.5-2009, and has members that are involved in a number of national committees and organizations.

The conference

This year’s Annual Technical & Educational Conference will have sessions that cover ASME and GD&T fundamentals, CAD and drawing standards, building codes, graphics, etc. In particular, they will have sessions for CAD and graphic art applications such as PhotoShop, SolidWorks, Pro/E, AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-Up, Illustrator, and several others. Other sessions of note will discuss sustainability, BIM, and even workplace ethics.

I’m also presenting a talk on establishing company CAD procedures at this year’s conference. Though this presentation will be similar to my breakout session at SolidWorks World 2011, it will be more applicable to the broader audience at the Annual Technical & Educational Conference.

I will write about many aspects of this conference on SolidWorks Legion, including special attention to the quality and depth of several presentations. I also hope to have a least a couple of interviews. I also plan to post tweets on hashtag #atec11 during the event.

This will be my first year attending ADDA’s Annual Technical & Educational Conference, though I’ve been looking for an opportunity for several years. Please note that ADDA is non-profit. Although ADDA is giving me full conference access (including some meals) at no cost, I am sorta earning my keep by being one of the presenters. I am personally paying for all other costs associated with my attendance, including airfare and hotel.

If you are interested in the ADDA, their certification process, or the Annual Technical & Educational Conference, please visit their website for further details.

Linkedin adds a new and useful category

Recently, Linkedin drastically expanded the number of sections available on a user’s profile page (a defacto resume). This is important to engineers and other SolidWorks users because one of the new sections is Certification. This new section displays the certificate name, certification authority, license (certificate) number, certificate issue and expiration dates. SolidWorks Certified Professionals (CSWP), Professional Engineers (PE) and others can now add their certificates directly to their Linkedin profile, complete with their verifiable certificate number. Here is my Linkedin profile as an example. My CSWP appears between the Experience and Education sections.

To add your professional certificates, log on to Linkedin and view the Edit Profile page. Above the Summary section is a link that looks like this:

NEW Add sections to reflect achievements and experiences on your profile. Add Sections

In addition to certificates, there are many new sections available such as patents, publications, skills, and even tweets and Amazon.com reading list.

While you are there

If you are a CSWP, you may also wish to join the CSWP group on Linkedin. The group is dutifully maintained by Jeff Mirisola. He does check CSWP status before accepting new group members.

Breakout Sessions at SolidWorks World 2011

Because of my concerted effort to keep my schedule under control, my experience at SolidWorks World 2011 was a little more sane. I was able to make more time for breakout sessions.

I enjoyed the informal format of Devon Sowell’s presentation, Demonstrating Workgroup PDM to Enterprise PDM Migration. In his session, he involved the audience in the discussion. Questions from the audience where frequently fielded, along with suggestions and ideas. The presentation talked about utilities that simplify the migration process, including one that is only available from a VAR.

Other sessions I attended include information on VB.NET programming, ASME Y14.5-2009, and other PDM topics.

I also encountered a couple of breakout sessions by individuals that did not seem as prepared as they should’ve been. There seems to always be some sessions like this each year at SolidWorks World, unfortunately. Of course, it’s not completely unavoidable. Sometimes things just don’t seem to work during the presentation, even if they did work flawlessly during practices.

Overall, I had a fruitful experience at this year’s SolidWorks World. I’ll talk a bit about my own presentation in a later article.

Bertrand Sicot declares he will be a CSWP

At SolidWorks World, there are a lot of events. One of the more interesting events is the Press Event. This event is held in honor of the Press attendees. It gives them a chance to connect directly with SolidWorks employees and leadership. Bernard Charles, CEO of Dassault Systemes, and Bertrand Sicot, CEO of the SolidWorks subsidiary, were both on-hand at this year’s Press Event last night. Several of the CAD bloggers had a chance to talk with both CEOs for a considerable length of time.

As some are aware, Sicot is a SolidWorks user. In Sales, he may be called upon to demonstrate the product. During our conversion, I asked Sicot if he is a CSWP (Certified SolidWorks Professional). His first answer was a sheepish smile. After reminding him that Jeff Ray (previous CEO of SolidWorks) has his certification, Sicot lamented, “I should have my CSWP.” In front of Charles and others, Sicot then added, “I will have my CSWP before the next SolidWorks World.” I must give kudos to Sicot for stepping up to the challenge.

He is a busy person right now. Since his promotion, he has been doing double duty both as CEO of SolidWorks and also still as EVP of Global Sales (until his replacement is found). With those responsibilities, I don’t expect him to earn his CSWP within the next couple of months. Becoming a CSWP by this time next year does seem realistic.

The CSWP is important since it demonstrates that a person as a firm understanding of how to use SolidWorks core functions. Sicot’s spontaneous declaration (that he will earn his CSWP) isn’t a stunt, in my opinion. It seems to be born out of a genuine desire to connect to SolidWorks users.

Kranz and Lovell at SolidWorks World (part 2)

During the press conference after the SolidWorks World 2011 General Session, someone asked whichcharacterists are desirable to have in an engineer. This was a thought provoking question that Gene Kranz took in stride. He stated that good engineers have to have intense listening. They also have know the people they work with. I suspect these answers come from a deep history of problem solving when lives are on the line. Jim Lovell answered by saying engineers need coureosity and the ability to look ahead to see an impending crises.

Lovell also speculated,

Our technological advances are far exceeding our social advances.

When asked about commerical space programs, Lovell made a distinction between actual commerical space programs and government funded programs. He then speculated,

I believe it’s going to be another decade for truly successful commerical space [programs].

Kranz forsees another type of difficulty for commercial space programs.

If [a commerical company] fails, who’s going to be responsible?

Space travel has to take into account the effects on populations throughout the planet. Commercial space companies will have to be well insured in the event one of their vessals slams in to a city, according to Kranz.

Finally, when asked about the use of computer simulation verse physical simulations used in the rescue of Apollo 13, Kranz commented on use of the physical simulations lead to virtually every success they had. Lovell added that the simulations were quite realistic.

Meeting Lovell and Kranz is definitely going to be the highlight of this trip for me. In return, both Lovell and Kranz stated their appreciation of their reception from the conference attendees. In particular, they were impressed by the number of press at the press conference.