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Discover the Value of Training in the November IMAGINiT iCommuniqué Newsletter

imaginitfeeds@rand.com (IMAGINiT Technologies) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:03 EST

IMAGINiT has posted the November editions of the iCommuniqué newsletter, for the manufacturing, building, architecture, civil, geospatial, and educational communities.

iCommuniqué is a monthly newsletter read by thousands of subscribers worldwide. This electronic publication is a great resource for news and information about IMAGINiT Technologies, Autodesk®, AutoCAD®, and related software.

IMAGINiT Technologies Commits Resources to Help Clean Tech Start-ups Get to Market Early Through the use of 2D and 3D Design Products

imaginitfeeds@rand.com (IMAGINiT Technologies) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:13:41 EST

IMAGINiT Technologies has joined forces with Autodesk to help entrepreneurs in the clean tech space accelerate their products to market. Through the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program, Autodesk is providing early stage clean tech companies in the US and Canada with software grants to aid in the development of products aimed at solving some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Official Press Release

Join IMAGINiT and ASCENT Instructors and Bloggers at AU 2009

imaginitfeeds@rand.com (IMAGINiT Technologies) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:55:00 EST

Here is a list of IMAGINiT Technologies and ASCENT - Center for Technical Knowledge lead presentations at Autodesk University 2009.

George Ikonomakis (IMAGINiT)
Maximize the Use of Autodesk® Revit® Structure Extensions
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 8:00 am

Warren Medernach (IMAGINiT Blogger)
From AutoCAD® Map 3D to Autodesk MapGuide® in Three Simple Steps: Connect, Stylize, Publish
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 1:00pm

Elvis Sverko (ASCENT)
Real Life Applications: Practical Engineering Purposes for AutoCAD Electrical: It's Not Just for Drafting)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 1:00 pm

Malcolm Fernandes (IMAGINiT)
Lots More: Rules Based Lot Grading
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 3:00 pm

Mark Flayler (IMAGINiT Blogger)
It's Not Sign Language: Designing Custom Sketched Symbols in Drawings Using Autodesk® Inventor®
Thursday, December 3, 2009 - 1:00 pm

Autodesk Licenses ISOGEN Technology From Intergraph

imaginitfeeds@rand.com (IMAGINiT Technologies) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:16:04 EST

Autodesk announced it has entered into a long-term OEM licensing agreement with Intergraph® to embed Intergraph ISOGEN® technology in Autodesk's AutoCAD® Plant 3D 2010 product. With tens of thousands of users worldwide, Intergraph ISOGEN is the leading software application for automatic production of piping isometrics and bills of materials.

How Training Pays Off by Ralph Grabowski

imaginitfeeds@rand.com (IMAGINiT Technologies) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:50:19 EST

I recall one of the first times I provided training for the small CAD department of a local manufacturing company. The company's two CAD users were amazed as I showed them the power of Trim and Extend commands to clean up drawings. They had no idea the commands existed; until then, they had time-consumingly adjusted lines in their drawings manually.

The incident illustrates how CAD is used inefficiently when drafters are insufficiently trained. The CAD software is initially easy to start with, but then drafting efficiently becomes an issue. Over and over again I have heard users tell me they lack the time to learn to use the software properly, because they are too busy using it.

This is a paradox that must be solved by management, for if drafters learn to use CAD more efficiently, then management benefits from the lowered cost-per-drawing as drawings are completed more quickly.

One solution is to schedule weekly in-house CAD training sessions during the lunch hour, with management providing lunch free-of-charge as compensation for "working" during the lunch break.

Another efficiency solution is to tailor training to the needs of each user. This ensures time is not wasted by drafters learning material with which they are already familiar. To customize the learning, tests are applied that evaluate each user's CAD knowledge -- or lack thereof. It's important that training be tailored to the tasks users actually carry out, but in which they are not yet efficient.

Training is, unfortunately, wasted when users are unable to retain the content of the lessons. To overcome this barrier, it can be helpful to implement shortened train-employ cycles, where users are trained in one new technique, and then are able to immediately implement it in their everyday drafting.

Training helps employees complete their work in less time -- or produce more drawings in the same time. Either way, training is an investment that pays off.

Ralph Grabowski is editor at upFront.eZine Publishing, Ltd., including the WorldCAD Access blog. Ralph is the author of over 100 books and several hundred magazine articles about computer-aided design.

IMAGINiT Technologies offers several training options, and is Autodesk's largest Authorized Training Center partner.