Tuesday 29 April 2014

8 Tips to Improve Your Design Productivity

Engineering can be fun but it can also be a tough job. And generally there is little time to rest due to the balancing act between detail and efficiency. To keep it simple, I do what I normally do, because I know it works. Often I don’t stop to question other ways to do things as there is pressure to get the work out to manufacturing.

But there are times when I’m doing something that I haven’t done for a while, or doing something new when I have asked the questions: “How do I do that?; “How did I do it before? Or: “How can I do it better?”. So I thought I would share 8 Tips to Improve Your Design Productivity.

1.    Seek and you might find
Find it Quickly: Should I “Google it”? - Whatever design system you use, getting information that helps you work more efficiently is key, so being able to get quick results requires filtered searches. 
My.SolidWorks gives you access to the information you need. Plus when you’re on subscription, you can access deeper content from the Solutions Knowledge Base, online Help, and more.
My Solidworks on Mobile devices
Search direct on your Mobile:
http://my.solidworks.com/
My Solidworks - Landing Page with filtered search

2.     Review the good stuff...
     Can’t quite remember how to do that edge flange? If you have already completed a training course at your local solution provider, you can now access the training manual online

3.     Learn more and Online
How can I use Weldments in SolidWorks? - Develop your design skills – For those simple solutions, Designers often browse videos online on popular content providers like YouTube (and other sites).

But the content is not always what you’re looking for, and sometimes you just don’t know where it came from. My.SolidWorks has a learning module accessible from the built in navigation pane. You can browse content directly, or even add your own learning goals and sharpen your skills. Click here to watch a short instructional video.

My Solidworks - eLearning

4.     Stay current...
Something new that might help me? Find out What’s New – There is always new content on My.SolidWorks whether it’s a SOLIDWORKS blog post, videos, forum posts, and more.

5.     Share it!
Why keep it to yourself? Share helpful content,answers, and insights. - Sharing solutions enforces your skills, making you more productive. And it improves your team’s productivity – they can learn better ways to do their tasks.

6.     Keep your team in the loop!
Want to know if your team is at peak productivity? As a subscription customer, you can dashboard your teams’ exam results and determine whether design engineers might need more trainingTalk to your local solution provider about what they offer.

7.     Test your Mettle...
Prove that you have the skills! Try an exam to see what you are skilled at and see if there's room for improvement. The CertifiedSolidWorks Professional certification (for Mechanical Design, Validation and other exams) are available to purchase online – Or for subscription customers, some exams can be accessed for free.There are also links to free sample exams to test your knowledge prior to taking the exam.

8.     Get HELP (when you need it)
What is the latest version of software that I could be running? Access the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal – Where you have access to downloads, information on system requirements, and more.

I hope that you found this informative - Feel free to leave a comment below.