Some CAD managers are challenged with balancing their “real work” (as a billable employee) with their CAD management responsibilities (often considered nonbillable time). This can be a daunting and thankless assignment. Billable work and deadlines consume your workday, so CAD management gets squeezed in between projects, during lunches, or after hours. But it’s possible to use some simple (and a few not-so-simple) AutoLISP tricks to make AutoCAD software do some of the heavier or more tedious CAD management tasks, so you can get back to your work (and your life). Like many tools, AutoLISP can be intimidating, frustrating, dangerous, and powerful all at the same time. But as with any tool, understanding how it works and how to work it makes a huge difference. In this session, we’ll look at some real-world scenarios, a number of examples, and a variety of resources available to use back at your company.

Some CAD managers have to balance their “real work” (as billable employees) with their CAD management responsibilities (often considered nonbillable time). This can be a daunting and thankless assignment. Billable work and deadlines consume your workday, so the needs of CAD management get squeezed in between projects, during lunches, or after hours. But it’s possible to capitalize on some simple (and a few not so simple) AutoLISP tricks to make AutoCAD software do some of the heavy lifting or tedious tasks of CAD management so you can get back to your work (and back to your life). Like many tools, AutoLISP can be intimidating, frustrating, dangerous, and powerful—all at the same time. But as with any tool, understanding how it works and how to work it makes a huge difference. In this session, we’ll look at some real-world scenarios, a number of examples, and a variety of resources you can capitalize on back at your company.

Great CAD managers know that they can positively impact the bottom line by making projects run smoother and by reducing errors, but they often have difficulty getting their management teams to understand. In this session, we'll talk about ways to integrate CAD management into project workflows in a way that cuts rework and gets more work done in fewer man-hours-saving the company money on every project. CAD managers will learn valuable tips for selling this approach to their senior managers, while IT and senior managers will gain valuable perspectives on how CAD management can impact their company's profitability. Along the way, we'll pay particular attention to measuring savings and computing the return on investment for CAD management. If you want to get your boss to notice and listen to you, save him or her money with the concepts you'll learn in this class-and watch your career take off.

Great CAD managers know that they can positively impact the bottom line by making projects run smoother and by reducing errors, but they often have difficulty getting their management teams to understand. In this session, we will talk about ways to integrate CAD management into project workflows in a way that cuts rework and gets more work done in fewer man-hours—saving the company money on every project. CAD managers will learn valuable tips for selling this approach to their senior managers, while IT and senior managers will gain valuable perspectives on how CAD management can impact their company's profitability. Along the way, we’ll pay particular attention to measuring savings and computing the return on investment for CAD management. If you want to get your boss to listen to you, save them money with the concepts you’ll learn in this class.

CAD managers are facing a major shift. As artificial intelligence (AI) and Automation, Integration, & Customization tools become more accessible, the traditional role of CAD oversight is evolving into a leadership position focused on efficiency, strategy, and Management. In this session, we’ll explore how AI technologies—including ChatGPT for conversational assistance and script guidance, Autodesk Platform Services for seamless integration, and Dynamo for low-code Automation, Integration, & Customization—are reshaping CAD workflows in AutoCAD and Civil 3D software. You’ll learn how to automate tedious tasks, improve quality control, and better support project teams—all without needing to become a programmer. If you're ready to stop reacting and start leading, this session will show you the tools and mindset needed for the future of CAD management.

In my 10 years with CAD, I've only met a handful of people lucky enough to have a full-time job as a CAD manager. Most of us got to be a CAD manager because we had a powerful feeling that we could get our jobs done more easily if we could just get our CAD tools sorted out (and because no one else wanted to do it!). This class is for people who want to be CAD managers, people who have become CAD managers by accident, and people who do the CAD manager’s job and don’t get any credit for it! In this class, we will discuss 5 key areas that you must attend to as a CAD manager to support your team and effect your team’s productivity. Finally, we will discuss tools for putting these 5 key areas onto a productivity road map to help you plan a phased improvement. Whether you’re managing CAD at your company officially or unofficially, please come and join us for this lively and informative class. AIA Approved

You now have the responsibility to manage CAD within your department and/or organization, but your job title does not include CAD manager. You do not or cannot dedicate your time full time to this task. So how do you do this? We will use my transition from reseller to mining equipment manufacturer in an examination of how to get buy-in from management, how to get participation by the users (and your peers), where to start, and how to proceed. Let us talk standards, processes, procedures, training, CAD, management, and continual leadership.

You’ve been given the responsibility to manage CAD within your department and/or organization, but your job title does not include “CAD manager.” You do not or cannot dedicate all of your time to this task. So how do you do this? We’ll use my transition from reseller to mining equipment manufacturer as a way of examining how to get buy-in from management, how to get participation by the users (and your peers), where to start, and how to proceed, as well as reviewing my continuing development with time and project management. Let’s talk processes, procedures, training, CAD, management, and continual leadership.

You can use AutoLISP programming language to very effectively manage AutoCAD-software-based products, although the way to do so isn't always obvious. The trick lies in using AutoLISP to control the command vocabulary while eliminating the need for cumbersome profile-based control of plotting, palettes, and device configuration pathing. We'll discuss how to create, delete, and redefine commands; load external executables; load CUIx and workspaces; control system and registry variables; and make your custom functions better behaved by using ERROR functions and declaring a global variable list for network-wide control. Along the way, we'll explore useful VL/VLR functions and code security. We'll present a sample network environment for context, and provide sample files for download after the class. If you've ever wanted to know more about how AutoLISP can help you manage your AutoCAD software tools, you don't want to miss this class.

In 2020 and 2021, CAD managers have been tested as never before as the world changed seemingly overnight and as we now navigate the changes back to “normal.” This award-winning panel is back to discuss these timely topics and more. Learn from the experiences of this panel of diverse CAD managers who are widely respected as leaders in their field. Hear their unique perspectives and solutions to challenges faced by CAD managers from organizations of all sizes and backgrounds. We will discuss topics related to working remotely and the challenges of being a CAD manager during a pandemic. If you’re burnt out on hearing about COVID, we’ll also cover several other important CAD management topics, including CAD standards, keeping up with rapidly changing technology, managing users, communicating with management, budgeting, and more. Join us for a panel discussion that has become an anticipated Autodesk University tradition. Take this opportunity to learn from four CAD managers who have been there and done that.

Are you a CAD manager? Do you need to convince your employees to use software and your boss to buy software? Many times you are faced with the hardest task of your position, which is to influence people upstream and downstream to even consider what you are proposing. You’ve done the research and are convinced it is the right course. Sometimes the software is in place, and you just have to convince them that your workflow is the best way to go. Come to this class to learn how to influence your boss and your employees to get on board.

Everything in your technology environment is changing. In order to lead, you need to be nimble enough to change with it. We will look at the skills of your position and see how you can blend technical skills, management prowess, and leadership dynamics together to make you the most effective leader. You can improve your effectiveness by knowing what skill to apply to each situation. We will show you how to identify the situations where leadership is the most effective approach and the situations where management skills need to be applied. Making the wrong call about which role you need to take can cripple your effectiveness. Come away with the tools you need to customize your methods to the moment and be more nimble and productive.

We work in an industry where change is rapid and, in many cases, it is accelerating. CAD managers need to be able to adapt not only to technical challenges but also to changes in the economy. This award-winning panel is back to share important lessons they've learned from decades of experience. Learn from this panel of diverse CAD managers who are widely respected as leaders in their field. Hear their unique perspectives and solutions to challenges faced by CAD managers from organizations of all sizes and backgrounds. Topics will include keeping up with rapidly changing technology, budgeting, efficiency in economic uncertainty, communicating with management and other non-technical team members, managing users, standards, and more. Join us for a panel discussion that has become an anticipated Autodesk University tradition. Take this opportunity to learn from four CAD managers who have been there and done that.

Previous CAD-manager wish-list sessions focused on the ancillary tools and programs that come with AutoCAD software, but haven’t been updated or improved since their release. We've discussed desired improvements to things like Reference Manager, Sheet Set Manager, Standards Checker, eTransmit, and Fields. In the 2018 edition, we’ll focus on your ideas for a perfect CAD management world. We’ll discuss your various bottlenecks and challenges, and what you, as the CAD manager would like to see as solutions. These solutions may be updates to current tools, or something that may not even exist (yet!). Attendees will be expected to actively participate, as an AutoCAD Product Team member will attend, so this is an opportunity to have the CAD manager’s voice heard!

As CAD managers, we face a variety of challenges when developing, supporting, and coordinating adoption of a company’s CAD standards package. These tasks can include a variety of considerations, such as user acceptance, change management, production impacts (or disruptions), training prerequisites, collaboration techniques, solution architecture, rollout strategies, feedback protocols, and, of course, user pushback. Join the speaker for this roundtable discussion as we explore strategies that have worked (and those that have not) and discuss what you need to know as a CAD manager when “selling” the standard—from the single drawing-production staff member through upper-tier management. This is an opportunity to share your CAD management experiences with others in attendance. Participation is expected.

So many CAD managers came to their position because they were expert CAD users. However, CAD skills are only a part of what it takes to be a good CAD manager. This award-winning panel is back to share important lessons they’ve learned from decades of experience. Learn from this panel of diverse CAD managers who are widely respected as leaders in their field. Hear their unique perspective and solutions to challenges faced by CAD managers from organizations of all sizes and backgrounds. Topics include CAD standards, keeping up with rapidly changing technology, managing users, communicating with management and other nontechnical people, budgeting, working remotely and supporting remote users, and more. Join us for a panel discussion that’s become an anticipated Autodesk University tradition. Take this opportunity to learn from four CAD managers who have been there—and done that.

Have you ever said to yourself, “We pay for modern software tools, CAD managers, IT, hardware, implementation,and training, but I can’t help feeling we aren’t getting all the productivity we should have.”? In my experience, most senior management staffs have thought this at some point—but why? In this class, we’ll explore the role senior management can play in making new tools perform through motivation, CAD management intervention, implementing mission goals, customer interaction, and expectation management. Along the way, we’ll explore the key failure modes that impede technology productivity that CAD managers and users often miss. These include poor user psychology, contractual barriers, negative peer pressure, and lack of mission focus. Make no mistake, senior management really does have a role in rolling out new software technology, and this session will help you understand that role better so you can get the most from your software environment.