CAD productivity studies show there is a direct relationship between the amount of training taken and increased levels of productivity improvement, both in terms of time to achieve improvements and the ultimate levels of productivity achieved.

Yet CAD training is dismissed in many firms as an unnecessary expense, providing little return on investment. On-the-job training (OJT) is said to be more cost effective. In such firms, CAD training happens only when an urgent need for training becomes apparent. Otherwise, staff members are expected to have the necessary skills before being employed, or expected to pick up additional skills as they work. In certain cases, staff are sent to accredited training centres where they are given intensive training before being returned to the office to apply it all.

It is important not only to invest in training, but to also plan the investment wisely. Companies should map out a training plan that offers the best value to the company, in terms of both financial implications and the return on investment gained by increased staff knowledge and production. Careful planning can not only improve the traditional CAD drawing process, but also help move staff into new production methods. For example, improving the speed of CAD drawing production by 5% is nothing compared to using CAD data to improve the output of a project by 10% in a Single Project Model environment. Yet that 5% improvement in drawing needs to be achieved by training and improving knowledge before it can be applied to such a model. Employees should be shown a clear path, one that is linked to career goals.

There are many questions to be answered when creating a training plan. What should be taught? Who should teach? Should you write your own in-house courses, or should you delegate this to an external consultant? Is it important that the company who created the software accredit that consultant?

The role of internal training

Internal training should always form part of any well-structured training plan. It would seem that the best solution should be a highly experienced user who knows the company's methods inside out and can run the software without problems. Gifted individuals do make a big difference to CAD productivity. In a recent study, a productivity difference of 300% was noted in a sample of 12 professional CAD users. If all CAD users could match the best, then the design productivity increase would dwarf those obtained from any other sources. However, teaching others in-house can be an expensive and time-consuming process using staff that could be more efficiently employed elsewhere. And how do you identify the person best suited to teach? A good user is not necessarily a good teacher.

The software publisher or reseller is an obvious source of training. For example, Bentley offers a series of courses covering all aspects of MicroStation. Take the time to review the curriculum of each class you are considering. If the ready-made courses are not specific enough for your situation, Bentley Institute and Bentley Consulting both offer customised training services. You will be better able to place individuals into the right classes as a result.

Independent training consultants can provide a cost-effective alternative to certified training, but be careful to prove the qualifications of the trainer. There are cowboys in training as much as there are cowboys in the building trade.

A comprehensive plan for your firm may well use each training type mentioned above. Be prepared to apply varying solutions for varying requirements, but in all cases, clearly define your training requirements, goals and success criteria. Make sure you do not settle for what you are told is a necessary part of the syllabus without due consideration to your own internal applications. Do you really need a three-day course? A quality training company will go out of their way to provide you with a course syllabus tailored to your needs. But do not let them charge you consultancy rates to 'customise' a course by stripping out sections of the manual.

Custom training

There are companies offering complete, custom training. Such training will always be of great value if you manage the process. Be aware that you will either be charged for course development - in which case, you should agree upfront exactly what you will receive in return - or you will be required to guarantee enough business to justify the effort required.

Watch for hidden charges in custom training. Most companies provide a lunch for day-long courses, but some will add this as extra, or in some cases, leave the delegates to fend for themselves - not a good way to ensure repeat business. One of the big minuses in training these days is the trend to charge extra for course manuals. Any training course should not end once the actual instruction is over; you should make every effort to secure hard copies of any notes and exercises as part of the price. Do not let them argue about piracy and copyright issues. Legal copies of all course materials should always be included as part of the course fee.

Do your homework

Once you have agreed on content and detail, take the extra time to find out as much as you can about the instructor. The trainer is more important than the course content, and should be well versed in all aspects of the software, not just the particulars of the curriculum. They should always be keen, enthusiastic and one step ahead. It is important to make sure that the instructor has been appointed with due consideration to the skills, experience and requirements of the attendees. Make sure that the instructor has more software experience than the people they are to instruct. I have seen too many situations where the trainee has had to help the trainer. Do not stand for this. Use a trainer with whom you have had direct experience. Do not settle for someone with only a sales or technical support background. Insist that a trainer have real-world experience.

Finally, plan the location of the training carefully. A decent training company will have a suitable classroom included in the course fees. On-site training can be significantly more expensive, but the return on it is that you can generally agree to have as many people attending (within sensible limits) as you desire, perhaps reducing per-person costs dramatically. If your training is to be in-house, take the effort to secure an area away from day-to-day business for peace and quiet, especially away from telephones. Do not allow classes to be interrupted.

Is CAD training worth all this effort? Without a doubt, yes, if you take the time to manage training as you would manage a project. The goal is to achieve maximum return for minimum outlay. While there is no way to reduce training costs to zero, a carefully managed scheme can bring benefits back into the office for current, and more importantly, future methods of working.

For more information contact Bentley Systems, 011 462 5811.

About the author:

Nigel Davie is CAD Development Manager for Whitby Bird & Partners, one of the UK's top structural engineering firms.