Software tools, no matter for whichever industry they are developed, eventually requires to be upgraded at some point in order to take productivity to the next level. It is important for us to find new and better solutions that allow competing in the rapidly advancing marketplace.

CAD tools are no different in this regard. Rapidly growing product design world with the ability to develop accurate detailed design, get realistic graphical images and animation, test design virtually and 3D print for prototypes, demand advanced tools for product development.

Transformation in CAD tools is critical to ensure better product quality and efficient manufacturing processes, in order to meet the most important goal of operating a business – profitability. While the idea of upgrading a CAD system to compete in the market isn’t new to anyone in the manufacturing sector, the trick is to realize when exactly you should make the move. To ensure that the transformation or the upgrade process remains glitch-free, it is crucial to recognize the signs early, so that you have enough time to prepare for the change.

If you see any of the following issues occurring repetitively within your organization, it is the right time for you to consider upgrading or shifting to a new CAD solution.

#1 Managing Files is a Problem

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This is one of the prominent signs in any manufacturing organization running on inefficient CAD systems. Your CAD systems might make it difficult to manage files, maintain version control and maintain compatibility. If you are facing trouble in opening recent file formats, upgrading is essential to ensure interoperability with your supply chain vendors. Apart from compatibility, if existing CAD system is crashing while working on large files and you are regularly required to rebuild models that were created using the same tools, you clearly need an upgrade.

#2 Design Changes are Becoming Difficult

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Today’s fast changing market dynamics and increasing customer intervention for customization often invites last moment design changes. It is important that your CAD system is capable and efficient enough to handle these changes without disrupting the manufacturing process. Handling these changes efficiently is important as spending any extra day to integrate engineering change can severely affect the profit margins. If your 3D CAD system is not helping in quickly accommodating change and generating accurate design details, it is advisable to evaluate your existing CAD solution and look for upgrade options that can bring in more productivity.

#3 Better Tools Available with Your Competitor

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Another important sign that indicates requiring an upgrade to your existing CAD system is when your competitors are already utilizing advanced tools for their product development. Modern CAD platforms available today provide multiple features such as virtual testing, design automation, 3D rendering and integration of augmented reality to enhance productivity by manifold. Missing out on these opportunities means allowing your competitors to stay ahead by offering customers a better experience and maintaining efficiency at the production floor.

Recognized the Need to Upgrade?

If you’ve already figured out your need to upgrade the CAD solution, it is crucial to realize that transitioning to a newer CAD system might turn out complicated and engage many of your qualified resources. It is inevitable to convert legacy data to ensure compatibility with new upgrade and can consume significant time of your resources in the conversion process. There might be instances when allocating your valuable resources for the transition may affect your business operations, and implementing a new system in place on your own might just not seem profitable.

For such cases, it is better to partner with engineering services firms that provide end-to-end design support and have dedicated resources who can perform the task of converting your legacy design data or 2D CAD to 3D models.

Wrap Up

CAD tools available today are far more advanced and capable to meet the fast changing market requirements. As a manufacturer, it is important to leave behind the tools that once might have remained efficient in solving problems of that time. New problems and challenges require new tools and recognizing the need of transitioning to these new tools is important to get an early head start and stay ahead in competition.