Last updated on Feb 7, 2024

How do you train and upskill your CAD/CAM staff to keep up with the changing technologies and standards?

CAD/CAM software is essential for designing and manufacturing products in various industries, from aerospace to medical devices. But as technology evolves and standards change, how do you ensure that your CAD/CAM staff have the skills and knowledge to keep up with the latest trends and best practices? In this article, we will share some tips and strategies to help you train and upskill your CAD/CAM staff effectively and efficiently.

1 Assess your current and future needs

The first step to train and upskill your CAD/CAM staff is to assess your current and future needs. What are the gaps and challenges in your current CAD/CAM processes and workflows? What are the new technologies and standards that you need to adopt or comply with? How do your customers and competitors affect your CAD/CAM requirements and expectations? By conducting a thorough analysis of your current and future needs, you can identify the areas and levels of training and upskilling that your CAD/CAM staff need.

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Ben Davies

Sales estimator at Bradford Laser
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Having worked on CAD for 30 years, I have only really see one development, CAD/CAM! The ability to take a CAD drawing and put it straight into a G code generator is a game changer. It is therefore really disappointing when people scale drawings to fit their drawing boarder, SCALE YOUR BOARDER to suit the part you have drawn, that way someone can use the file you have created with confidence to make the part you designed. Then print a scale to suit A4, A3 ect.

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Ubong Okon

Mechanical Design Engineer @ Ingersoll Rand
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I believe the CAD/CAM staff needs to be updated on the latest engineering softwares used for these purposes. Making these softwares easily available and its learning tutorials handy, helps in the training and education processes.

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Keyur Chawda

Autodesk Certified Professional , Educator, 3d Visualiser
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I Am working since Last 25 year in CAD Field, Organize regular workshops, seminars, and training sessions conducted by industry experts or technology providers,Facilitate internal knowledge sharing sessions where CAD/CAM staff can exchange ideas, tips, and lessons learned from their projects.Encourage CAD/CAM staff to undertake challenging projects or research initiatives that require them to learn new technologies or techniques.Provide constructive feedback and coaching to CAD/CAM staff on their skills, performance, and areas for improvement.

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2 Choose the right training methods and resources

The next step is to choose the right training methods and resources for your CAD/CAM staff. Depending on your budget, time, and objectives, you can opt for different types of training, such as online courses, webinars, workshops, certification programs, or mentoring. You can also leverage various resources, such as software manuals, tutorials, forums, blogs, podcasts, or industry publications. The key is to select the training methods and resources that match your CAD/CAM staff's learning styles, preferences, and goals.

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Vardan Bansal

Product and Industrial Design student | Sustainable Design | User-Centered Design
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An example of this that I work with is, its usually difficult for the staff to learn new things by themselves or from these various resources. So I usually try to learn myself from these training methods and filter out important and focused key learning that are usefull for the staff team to incorporate. I then practically show them or explain them in real world which is much easier to absorb the information.

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3 Implement a learning culture and feedback system

The third step is to implement a learning culture and feedback system in your organization. A learning culture is one that encourages and supports continuous learning and improvement among your CAD/CAM staff. You can foster a learning culture by providing incentives, recognition, and opportunities for your CAD/CAM staff to learn and grow. A feedback system is one that allows you to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of your training and upskilling efforts. You can implement a feedback system by using surveys, quizzes, tests, or performance indicators to measure your CAD/CAM staff's progress and satisfaction.

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Jason Vice

Sr. Technologist, Safety Officer, Machine Shop Manager, CNC Programmer, Machinist, Tool Maker, Culture Advocate at Kymeta
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My staff sets up and runs the parts they design and program. I have found that those who take a project from start to finish become better designers and programmers.

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4 Integrate Product Lifecycle Management tools and benefits

The fourth step is to integrate Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools and benefits into your CAD/CAM processes and workflows. PLM is a system that manages the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception to disposal. PLM tools can help you streamline and optimize your CAD/CAM activities, such as data management, collaboration, quality control, compliance, and innovation. PLM benefits can help you enhance your CAD/CAM outcomes, such as cost reduction, time saving, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage.

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Ahmed Abdelnaser
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As a CAD enthusiast and my experience in this field, I can say that to be updated with each year new feature is so important added to that the integration between CAD, CAM, CAE, and Manage is so important to have the cycle in place (One stop cycle).

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5 Update and refresh your training and upskilling plan

The fifth step is to update and refresh your training and upskilling plan regularly. Technology and standards change rapidly in the CAD/CAM field, so you need to keep your CAD/CAM staff updated and refreshed on the latest developments and best practices. You can update and refresh your training and upskilling plan by reviewing your needs assessment, tracking your feedback system, researching new training methods and resources, and incorporating new PLM tools and benefits.

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6 Engage and empower your CAD/CAM staff

The final step is to engage and empower your CAD/CAM staff throughout the training and upskilling process. Engaging your CAD/CAM staff means involving them in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of the training and upskilling activities. Empowering your CAD/CAM staff means giving them the autonomy, responsibility, and support to apply their learning and skills to their CAD/CAM tasks and projects. By engaging and empowering your CAD/CAM staff, you can boost their motivation, confidence, and performance.

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