| No matter how gloomy the economy seems to be | | | | less productive tools to get the job done and this |
| or how many times the green shoots of recovery | | | | was acceptable. |
| seem to sprout and then wither one thing is for | | | | However now the landscape has change many |
| certain and that is life still goes on, consumers and | | | | business can no longer afford to rest on their laurels |
| businesses still have needs that they want fulfilling, | | | | and as the demand for ever cheaper products and |
| and industries wheels keep on turning but how many | | | | shorter times to market is only getting worse, unless |
| companies are taking advantage of slower production | | | | a business has the tools and processes in place to |
| schedules to invest in the design processes within the | | | | meet these demands many businesses may ride the |
| business for future growth. | | | | recession but simply not be in a fit state to compete |
| 3D design methodologies have been with us for | | | | with stronger companies that previously saw the |
| many years now and although the sheer cost of this | | | | light, accepted change and made the time to adopt |
| software was literally a showstopper for many | | | | to new strategies and work practices. |
| smaller businesses historically, larger companies were | | | | However it is never too late to make a change and |
| quick to spot the productivity gains that embracing | | | | many businesses with the right focus and investment |
| this new technology would bring and invested heavily | | | | can take advantage of slower productivity cycles. |
| and have been reaping the rewards for many years. | | | | One of the major stoppages to adopting new |
| Slowly over time especially as companies like | | | | technology is not only the investment cost (return on |
| Autodesk and Solid works made the technology | | | | investment is almost inevitable) but also the ability to |
| more affordable to a far wider range of businesses | | | | release key members of staff during busy periods so |
| the adoption of 3D design methodologies has started | | | | they can attend the necessary cad courses that |
| to take off, and yet even though the software is | | | | enable them to get productive faster and produce a |
| now very affordable, too many business are simply | | | | quicker return on investment for the business. |
| not taking advantage of the wide gamut of | | | | With production pressure down now is an excellent |
| advantages that working in 3D can bring to their | | | | time to be adopting new technology and practices as |
| company! | | | | key personal can be released from the business for |
| So the big question is given the obvious benefits | | | | training and equally and will have time to develop |
| what is holding them back? | | | | internal processes to take maximum advantage of |
| 3D design technologies have been affordable for well | | | | the new software on their return. Also slower |
| over a decade now and the technology and work | | | | productivity pressures will soften the ongoing learning |
| practices are well proven, and as each successive | | | | curve which is another excellent advantage. There will |
| release of software gives companies even further | | | | undoubtedly be some businesses that will try and cut |
| productivity gains its obviously not a case of | | | | the proverbial corners when adopting new CAD |
| questioning whether 3D design methodologies work | | | | software within a company by not allowing for |
| anymore, but probably, where many business owners | | | | sufficient CAD training during the initial adoption |
| have grown to understand the processes of 2D | | | | period. This is in reality not a recommended practice |
| design and have become comfortable with it over | | | | and many experts will attest to the fact that a lack |
| time, the driving question simply must be "will it work | | | | of CAD training investment invariably leads to a much |
| for me"? | | | | slower implementation and a far longer wait for a |
| Adopting any new technology or process in a | | | | return on investment than is necessary. |
| business can be a daunting task and the risks of an | | | | Take advantage of the slow down in the economy |
| initial slow down in productivity will always need to be | | | | to get your design processes ready for the next ten |
| considered, but in the boom years the popular | | | | years, and be one of the companies that is in a |
| excuse seemed to be that the business was too | | | | strong position to compete and take advantage of |
| busy and could not risk a drop in productivity. | | | | the economic recovery. |
| Businesses simply carried on using outdated and much | | | | |