Autocad Menu Customization
SYSTEMS
Streamline Design
Documentation Standardization
SERVICE: Custom Manufacturing.
CUSTOMERS: SIEMENS - OLYMPICS -BONNIER TECHNOLOGY
DATE: 1993-2001
AUTOCAD MENU CUSTOMIZATION
Position: CUSTOM PANELS
IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE DESIGNS , AND STANDARDIZE DRAWINGS AND DESIGNS. I HAVE EMPLOYED CUSTOMIZING THE AUTOCAD MENU. THIS ALLOWED ME TO DESIGN CUSTOM UNITS AND MAINTAIN DRAWING STANDARDIZATION AND MACHINE STANDARDIZATION CREATING FASTER DEVELOPMENT AND LESS ERRORS.
I "APOLOGIZE" BUT HAVE INCLUDED A BACK STORY I FIND SIGNIFICANT TO MY HIRE AND JOB HISTORY .
INITIALLY I WAS ASSIGNED TO DESIGN CUSTOM UNITS OF SWITCHGEAR. DESIGN BEFORE I ARRIVED WAS DONE BY "SOMEONE" MORE "FREESTYLE" WITH NO STANDARDS. "HAND DRAWINGS". DESIGNS WERE "INCONSISTENT" AND SLOW IN DRAFTING. THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO DESIGN 3-4 UNITS PER WEEK.
I WAS GIVEN NO INSIGHT TO THE PROCESS OR EQUIPMENT. I WAS LEFT TO "FIGURE IT ALL OUT ON MY OWN".
I WAS ONLY GIVEN AUTOCAD LT TO WORK WITH. I BEGAN 1ST BY STUDYING THE EXISTING DESIGNS. NO ONE TOLD ME "ANYTHING"- WHILE I HAD NOT EVEN BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE PRODUCT I WAS DESIGNING, ONLY THEIR HAND SKETCHS.
WHILE DAILY MY PREDECESSOR COMPLAINED AND "LOUD TALKED" ABOUT ANY ERROR HE COULD FIND" OR "QUESTIONS I HAD".
MY "DETRACTOR" DID ALL HE COULD TO EMBARRASS ME AND IMPLICATE ME, INTENDING TO BE OVER HEARD BY OUR MANAGER IN THE NEXT CUBICLE, IN ORDER TO SET THE STAGE FOR COMPLAINTS ON MY USEFULNESS AND INABILITY TO MAKE ANY THING BETTER THAN HIS DESIGNS. EVEN USING "PROFANITY". I WAITED FOR MY MANAGER TO INTERVENE. HE NEVER DID.
MY "DETRACTOR" DID ALL HE COULD TO EMBARRASS ME AND IMPLICATE ME, INTENDING TO BE OVER HEARD BY OUR MANAGER IN THE NEXT CUBICLE, IN ORDER TO SET THE STAGE FOR COMPLAINTS ON MY USEFULNESS AND INABILITY TO MAKE ANY THING BETTER THAN HIS DESIGNS. EVEN USING "PROFANITY". I WAITED FOR MY MANAGER TO INTERVENE. HE NEVER DID.
I REDREW EVERYTHING IN AUTOCAD AND BEGAN PRODUCING PRODUCTION DRAWINGS SIMILAR TO THE LEAD ENGINEERS DESIGNS,UNTIL I BECAME FAMILIAR ENOUGH TO "FIND A PATTERN" AND "MODULARIZE" THE DESIGNS FOR CONSISTENCY. (1993)
DURING THIS PERIOD (COMPLETELY BY ACCIDENT) I DISCOVERED A DIRECTORY ON THE NETWORK WHICH CONTAINED MOST EVERY COMPONENT MANUFACTURED BY THE COMPANY ALREADY DRAWN IN AUTOCAD.
COMPLAINTS THEN BEGAN ON THE DETAILED NATURE OF MY LAYOUTS AND SYMBOLS-(ACTUALLY RECRUITING ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP COMPLAIN) WHEN THEY ACTUALLY CAME FROM THE "COMPANY", BUT WERE NEVER UTILIZED.
"NOW" ALL "ANYONE" USES AT THAT FACILITY (OR ANWHERE I KNOW OF): ARE "DETAILED IMAGES".
COMPLAINTS THEN BEGAN ON THE DETAILED NATURE OF MY LAYOUTS AND SYMBOLS-(ACTUALLY RECRUITING ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP COMPLAIN) WHEN THEY ACTUALLY CAME FROM THE "COMPANY", BUT WERE NEVER UTILIZED.
"NOW" ALL "ANYONE" USES AT THAT FACILITY (OR ANWHERE I KNOW OF): ARE "DETAILED IMAGES".
THIS "SIMPLIFIED" THINGS, AS THEN I NO LONGER HAD TO DRAW "BLANK BOXES" AS DEVICES. THIS MADE IT CLEARER "WHAT I WAS WORKING WITH". SINCE THE "ORIGINAL DESIGNS" WERE "NEBULOUS" TO ME.
THE "DETRACTORS" COMPLAINED THE ASSEMBLERS WERE "UNSKILLED LABOR". THE CHANGE MADE IT "EASIER" FOR THE ASSEMBLY PERSONNEL.
BY MAKING THINGS "MORE VISUAL" THEY NOW UNDERSTOOD THE DOCUMENTATION "BETTER" AND MADE LESS ERRORS AND THE TYPICAL REWORK FROM LACK OF UNDERSTANDING DIMINISHED. "ASSEMBLY" TEAMS BEGAN TO APPRECIATE MY CHANGES.
BY MAKING THINGS "MORE VISUAL" THEY NOW UNDERSTOOD THE DOCUMENTATION "BETTER" AND MADE LESS ERRORS AND THE TYPICAL REWORK FROM LACK OF UNDERSTANDING DIMINISHED. "ASSEMBLY" TEAMS BEGAN TO APPRECIATE MY CHANGES.
STILL THE DAILY "YELLING AND PROFANITY" CONTINUED FROM THE ENGINEER IN ORDER TO "INFLUENCE" MY MANAGER WHO QUIETLY LISTENED TO HIS COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEXT CUBICLE, DESPITE THE "INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY" AND "REDUCTION OF REWORK".
I AM "MILD MANNERED". I WAS NOT INCLINED TO "RAISE MY VOICE OR FIGHT BACK". I COULD SENSE THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN "EXCUSES". I SIMPLY CONTINUED MY EFFORTS. MY MANAGER DID NOT INTERVENE.
I AM "MILD MANNERED". I WAS NOT INCLINED TO "RAISE MY VOICE OR FIGHT BACK". I COULD SENSE THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN "EXCUSES". I SIMPLY CONTINUED MY EFFORTS. MY MANAGER DID NOT INTERVENE.
I SUPPORTED OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS THE CAD "GURU" OF SORTS ON PROCEDURE,PRINTING AND CONFIGURATION. THEY ALL HAD "FULL AUTOCAD". OTHER MANAGERS GOT TO KNOW ME, AS I HELPED THEIR TEAMS.
I WAS ONLY GIVEN AUTOCAD LT, SO MY ABILITY WAS "LIMITED".
THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT, SHOWS THE "STANDARD" 1993 AUTOCAD LT MENU SYSTEM.
MY ROLE WAS "ILL DEFINED" & I HAD "NO SUPPORT",SO I DECIDED TO WORK ON INCREASING "ACCURACY AND PRODUCTIVITY". OTHER DEPT. MANAGERS NOTICED ME COMING IN ON WEEKENDS AND OFFERED SUPPORT.
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(DANKA HR. HERB JANSA AND NAMASTE MR.NOEL DSA':)(1993).
RATHER THAN MEMORIZE EACH CELL AVAILABLE, I DECIDED TO "INTEGRATE THE PARTS INTO THE MENU SYSTEM" TO SIMPLIFY SELECTION.
NOW THAT I HAD A SENSE OF DESIGN STANDARDIZATION, I THEN DESIGNED A NEW AUXILIARY SET OF "PULLDOWN MENUS" TO INCORPORATE THE PARTS,AND MIMIC THE NATURAL ORDER OF HOW I DESIGNED THE PRODUCT. THE 6 EXTRA MENUS (SEEN ON THE RIGHT) BROUGHT A SENSE OF "STANDARIZATION" TO THE DESIGN PROCESS.
NOW THAT I HAD A SENSE OF DESIGN STANDARDIZATION, I THEN DESIGNED A NEW AUXILIARY SET OF "PULLDOWN MENUS" TO INCORPORATE THE PARTS,AND MIMIC THE NATURAL ORDER OF HOW I DESIGNED THE PRODUCT. THE 6 EXTRA MENUS (SEEN ON THE RIGHT) BROUGHT A SENSE OF "STANDARIZATION" TO THE DESIGN PROCESS.
NOW IT WAS 90 DAYS OF CRITICISM FROM THE "DETRACTOR" ("WHO WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT I WAS DEVELOPING"). WHO PROVOKED THE RESPONSE OF THE "ENGINEERING MANAGER" TO "APPROACH ME."
THE "LOOK AND VOCAL ATTITUDE" WAS CLEAR. HE "DEMANDED" TO KNOW "WHAT I HAD DONE", "IF ANYTHING" TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE "LAST 90 DAYS".(IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS PREPARING TO "FIRE ME" SINCE THE ENGINEER HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS "BY YELLING AND PROFANITY", MY ENTIRE 1ST 90 DAYS. (TEMP. TO PERM.)
THE "LOOK AND VOCAL ATTITUDE" WAS CLEAR. HE "DEMANDED" TO KNOW "WHAT I HAD DONE", "IF ANYTHING" TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE "LAST 90 DAYS".(IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS PREPARING TO "FIRE ME" SINCE THE ENGINEER HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS "BY YELLING AND PROFANITY", MY ENTIRE 1ST 90 DAYS. (TEMP. TO PERM.)
LUCKILY, I WAS "MOSTLY COMPLETE" WITH "MY DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION", AND SOME TEMPLATES I HAD CREATED. I OPENED AUTOCAD AND THEN SHOWED HIM THE "PULL DOWN MENU SYSTEM".
I INSERTED PARTS INTO THE DRAWING. EACH BLOCK PROMPTED FOR COMPONENT ID AND THE DEVICE DESCRIPTION WAS BUILT INTO THE BLOCK.
I FLIPPED THE LAYOUTS IN ORDER TO SHOW HIM THE "PRELIMINARY DRAWING" SENT TO THE CUSTOMER FOR APPROVAL. THEN I FLIPPED OTHER LAYOUTS, SHOWING EACH PANEL ASSEMBLY AND THE FINAL COMPLETED DRAWING WHICH WERE BROKEN INTO VARIOUS DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR EACH WORK CENTER.
I INSERTED PARTS INTO THE DRAWING. EACH BLOCK PROMPTED FOR COMPONENT ID AND THE DEVICE DESCRIPTION WAS BUILT INTO THE BLOCK.
I FLIPPED THE LAYOUTS IN ORDER TO SHOW HIM THE "PRELIMINARY DRAWING" SENT TO THE CUSTOMER FOR APPROVAL. THEN I FLIPPED OTHER LAYOUTS, SHOWING EACH PANEL ASSEMBLY AND THE FINAL COMPLETED DRAWING WHICH WERE BROKEN INTO VARIOUS DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR EACH WORK CENTER.
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HE LEFT MY AREA...
HE RETURNED WITH "HIS MANAGER"- THE "FACILITY MANAGER" - AND WANTED ME TO DEMONSTRATE THE "MENU SYSTEM" AND HOW "WE WOULD BE DESIGNING IN THE FUTURE".
I WAS FINALLY OFFERED A JOB IN THE COMPANY I HAD SEARCHED FOR SINCE GRADUATION. (I HAD SPENT 6 YEARS "UNDER-EMPLOYED"). THIS DID NOT SILENCE FUTURE COMPLAINTS AND PROFANITY.(LATER I WAS NOT THE ONLY "TARGET").(THAT PERSON HAD DUAL DEGREES FROM GA TECH ME/EE.)HE IS NOW SR. MANAGEMNT IN "IT", ELSEWHERE(WE ARE LINKEDIN). I'M SURE HE'D CONFIRM MY OBSERVATIONS.(I IGNORED IT BEST I COULD FOR YEARS.)
I WAS NOT APPOINTED AN "ENGINEER" IN THE CAPACITY COMMENSURATE WITH MY DEGREE. BUT THIS DID GIVE ME "AN ENTRANCE", "HOPEFULLY" TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE MY CAPABILITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.
I WAS FINALLY OFFERED A JOB IN THE COMPANY I HAD SEARCHED FOR SINCE GRADUATION. (I HAD SPENT 6 YEARS "UNDER-EMPLOYED"). THIS DID NOT SILENCE FUTURE COMPLAINTS AND PROFANITY.(LATER I WAS NOT THE ONLY "TARGET").(THAT PERSON HAD DUAL DEGREES FROM GA TECH ME/EE.)HE IS NOW SR. MANAGEMNT IN "IT", ELSEWHERE(WE ARE LINKEDIN). I'M SURE HE'D CONFIRM MY OBSERVATIONS.(I IGNORED IT BEST I COULD FOR YEARS.)
I WAS NOT APPOINTED AN "ENGINEER" IN THE CAPACITY COMMENSURATE WITH MY DEGREE. BUT THIS DID GIVE ME "AN ENTRANCE", "HOPEFULLY" TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE MY CAPABILITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.
MINE SAID
" IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO TURN BACK".
(OTHERS "SNICKERED") (OMINOUS TIDINGS)
TO THIS DAY DESPITE EATING ASIAN CUISINE, NEARLY TWICE WEEKLY,
I'VE SEEN PLENTY OF DUPLICATE FORTUNES, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A SIMILAR FORTUNE.(I.J.S.)(LOL)
I CREATED A MENU SYSTEM FOR "ANOTHER PROJECT".
I WAS ASKED TO SIMILARLY AUTOMATE AND STREAMLINE THE USE OF ALL SOFTWARE TO TRAIN OTHER "NEW HIRES".
I COULD NOW, DESIGN AND DO ALL PROJECT ACTIVITIES "BY MYSELF".
I WORKED WITH THE MANUFACTURING ENGINEER ON "INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND REDUCTION OF REPEATED ERRORS" (DESIGN AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT).
ON THE RIGHT ARE SEPARATE SELECTION DESIGN MENUS FOR THE "HUSKY"(HIGHLIGHTED) AND "TOKYO ELECTRON" PROJECTS.
I WAS ASKED TO SIMILARLY AUTOMATE AND STREAMLINE THE USE OF ALL SOFTWARE TO TRAIN OTHER "NEW HIRES".
I COULD NOW, DESIGN AND DO ALL PROJECT ACTIVITIES "BY MYSELF".
I WORKED WITH THE MANUFACTURING ENGINEER ON "INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND REDUCTION OF REPEATED ERRORS" (DESIGN AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT).
ON THE RIGHT ARE SEPARATE SELECTION DESIGN MENUS FOR THE "HUSKY"(HIGHLIGHTED) AND "TOKYO ELECTRON" PROJECTS.
MY MENU SYSTEM:
1ST - YOU COULD SELECT THE TYPE OF DRAWING TO CREATE. APPROPRIATELY PICKING "BORDER TYPE" AND SET UP OF "TEXT ANNOTATION".
THE MENU ALLOWED THE USER TO FILL IN THE TEXT ATTRIBUTES WITH A SINGLE CLICK THAN TO AIM FOR VARIOUS ATTRIBUTES.
ALSO ALL STANDARD NOTES AND TEXT INPUTS WERE ALREADY THERE FOR INSERTION INTO A "STANDARD SPOT AND LAYER". "SAVING TIME" ON DRAWING SETUP. CREATING "UNIFORM" LOOKING DOCUMENTATION, NO MATTER WHO WOULD DO THE EDITING & DESIGN.
1ST - YOU COULD SELECT THE TYPE OF DRAWING TO CREATE. APPROPRIATELY PICKING "BORDER TYPE" AND SET UP OF "TEXT ANNOTATION".
THE MENU ALLOWED THE USER TO FILL IN THE TEXT ATTRIBUTES WITH A SINGLE CLICK THAN TO AIM FOR VARIOUS ATTRIBUTES.
ALSO ALL STANDARD NOTES AND TEXT INPUTS WERE ALREADY THERE FOR INSERTION INTO A "STANDARD SPOT AND LAYER". "SAVING TIME" ON DRAWING SETUP. CREATING "UNIFORM" LOOKING DOCUMENTATION, NO MATTER WHO WOULD DO THE EDITING & DESIGN.
YOU COULD SELECT THE TYPE OF DRAWING SETUP (LAYOUT- ASBUILT) FOR ANY PROJECT I HAD SIMPLIFIED THE DESIGN.
MY MENU SYSTEM: PARTS WERE BROKEN DOWN BY FUNCTION, FOR EASIER SELECTION. FUSES,BREAKERS,CONTACTORS AND RELAYS, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL SIZES OF TERMINAL BLOCKS.
ALL WERE PLACED ON THE SPECIFIC LAYERS AT A "1 TO 1" SCALE.
VARIOUS STANDARD VIEWS WERE ADDED TO SPEED DESIGN.
ALL WERE PLACED ON THE SPECIFIC LAYERS AT A "1 TO 1" SCALE.
VARIOUS STANDARD VIEWS WERE ADDED TO SPEED DESIGN.
HERE IS AN "ICON BASED MENU" WITH ALL OF THE STRUCTURAL BAY CHOICES. VISUALIZED, RATHER THAN JUST DESCRIPTIONS, SO THE USER COULD TELL THE ACTUAL, TYPE AND SHAPE OF THE CONTAINER HE WOULD SELECT. I TENDED TO MAKE THINGS AS "WYSIWYG" AS POSSIBLE SINCE MANY ASSEMBLERS WERE NOT TECHNICAL AND NEEDED TO BE SURE THEY HAD THE CORRECT PARTS - NOT DRAWINGS OF BOXES AND SQUARES LIKE WHAT THEY HAD "BEFORE I WAS HIRED".
MY MENUS THEN INCLUDED THE SELECTION OF PANEL ENCLOSURES BY SIZE ,INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS AND SUBPANEL SIZES AS MANY OF THE SWITCHGEAR WERE "MULTI-BAY" PANELS WITH UP TO 6 BAYS AND EXTERNAL COMPONENTS AS WELL. "VISUALIZATION" MADE PROPER SELECTION EASIER. NOW AUTOCAD HAS MENU PALLETS SO ITS BECOME SIMPLER FOR AMATEURS TO IMPROVISE, BUT I CAN PROGRAM THOSE AS WELL FOR MORE THAN JUST BLOCK INSERTION.
MENUS: INDIVIDUAL MOUNTING PANELS, MOUNTING BRACKETS AND OTHER ASSEMBLY ITEMS, WERE INCORPORATED AS WELL.
ALSO AN EXTRA MENU TO HANDLE DESIGN OF VDE MACHINES WITH DIFFERENT CLASS COMPONENTS FOR USE IN EUROPE.
ALL PARTS COULD BE PLACED ON PANELS TO ASSURE SIZE AND FIT TO LIMIT THE NEED FOR REWORK AND DESIGN CHANGES. I DID HANDLE "ECN AND ECO'S" TO MAKE CUSTOMER CHANGES "MID CYCLE" OF ASSEMBLY AND NOTICES TO CHANGE PRACTICES COMMON TO THE PROJECTS GLOBALLY BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND "LEARNING FROM PAST EXPERIENCE". ALSO ADDED "PREMADE" ASSEMBLIES TO SAVE TIME IN MATCHING COMPONENTS AND AUXILIARY PARTS SELECTION.
ALL COMPONENTS AND DESIGN WERE DONE IN MODEL SPACE TO ASSURE A "1 TO 1" SCALE OF DESIGN, AND TO ENVISION THE ENTIRE DESIGN IN ONE VIEW.
PAPER SPACE CONTAINED THE ACTUAL DESIGN AND ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS IN DOCUMENT FORM. SHOWING TABLES AND BOMS THUS NO NEED TO REDRAW VIEWS WHEN CHANGES WERE MADE. I WAS LIMITED FROM DATA EXTRACTION AND BOM FOR ORDERING PARTS THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GIVEN AUTOCAD LT. THEY WERE USED TO USING "DBASE 3" WHICH WAS OUT DATED, BUT THE ONLY TOOL THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH. "SOMEONE ELSE" PROGRAMMED AND LEFT FOR THEIR USE.
UNTIL I LATER STREAMLINED THIS AS WELL, THERE WERE MANY CONTINUAL ERRORS IN THE "PARTS ORDERING PROCESS" ACCURACY.
UNTIL I LATER STREAMLINED THIS AS WELL, THERE WERE MANY CONTINUAL ERRORS IN THE "PARTS ORDERING PROCESS" ACCURACY.
"COMMANDS THAT WERE "TYPICALLY USED", WERE INCORPORATED ALONG WITH AUTOLISP ROUTINES" TO "CALCULATE QUANTITIES" OR "SELECT AUXILIARY COMPONENTS" ALSO. TABLES AND VARIOUS TEXT STANDARDS WERE DEFINED AS WELL.
WHILE I ALSO DESIGNED ANY NEW MECHANICAL "STRUCTURAL MEMBERS" AND ADDED THEM TO THE MENU SYSTEM, "AS NEEDED".
MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. BUT DESPITE A WIN. THE MANAGER "ASSUMED" THAT AUTOCAD WAS THE "LIMIT OF MY CAPABILITES".
WHILE I ALSO DESIGNED ANY NEW MECHANICAL "STRUCTURAL MEMBERS" AND ADDED THEM TO THE MENU SYSTEM, "AS NEEDED".
MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. BUT DESPITE A WIN. THE MANAGER "ASSUMED" THAT AUTOCAD WAS THE "LIMIT OF MY CAPABILITES".
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY? : "PRODUCTION" WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM (3-4) UNIT DESIGNS IN A WEEK TO 5-6 DESIGNS WEEKLY AND ONE SPECIAL LARGER TYPE PANELS. MANY OF THESE PANELS CONTAINED OVER 350 PARTS.
SEEING THE SIMPLICITY OF USING THE MENUS. I WAS TOLD TO TRAIN OTHERS TO DESIGN THE PROJECTS, USING MY TOOLS AND DESIGNS.
SEEING THE SIMPLICITY OF USING THE MENUS. I WAS TOLD TO TRAIN OTHERS TO DESIGN THE PROJECTS, USING MY TOOLS AND DESIGNS.
I THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO BE THE "PROMIS-E" PROCESS OWNER. NO ONE EXPLAINED "WHAT THEY EXPECTED THIS CAE (COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING) TO DO". SO I ONLY LEARNED HOW TO REDRAW THE SCHEMATICS IN THE "CAE".
ONCE I READ THE BOOK ON THE "REAL USE" OF THE SOFTWARE: EPLAN, AND PROMIS-E. I GOT TO WORK, TO SELF LEARN AND AUTOMATE THE EXTRACTION OF WIRE DATA FROM DRAWINGS USING THESE SOFTWARE. I NOTICED WE HAD HIRED SOMEONE FROM ASSEMBLY TO CREATE "WIRE LISTS". HE WAS STRUGGLING AND EVERYONE WAS IRRITAED AT THE ERRORS. BUT HE WAS POISED TO BE PROMOTED. HE QUIT OUR COMPANY AND FOUND A FULL ENGINEERING JOB WITH "GE" DESPITE HAVING NO EXPERIENCE OR DEGREE. BECAUSE HE NETWORKED CONNECTIONS.
ONCE I READ THE BOOK ON THE "REAL USE" OF THE SOFTWARE: EPLAN, AND PROMIS-E. I GOT TO WORK, TO SELF LEARN AND AUTOMATE THE EXTRACTION OF WIRE DATA FROM DRAWINGS USING THESE SOFTWARE. I NOTICED WE HAD HIRED SOMEONE FROM ASSEMBLY TO CREATE "WIRE LISTS". HE WAS STRUGGLING AND EVERYONE WAS IRRITAED AT THE ERRORS. BUT HE WAS POISED TO BE PROMOTED. HE QUIT OUR COMPANY AND FOUND A FULL ENGINEERING JOB WITH "GE" DESPITE HAVING NO EXPERIENCE OR DEGREE. BECAUSE HE NETWORKED CONNECTIONS.
DESPITE TRAINING OTHERS,I COULD NOW DO EVERY ASPECT OF THE PROJECTS FROM DESIGN TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH "NO ASSISTANCE", BETTER AND FASTER THAN ANYONE. ALL THE TOOLS WERE MY DESIGN. I COULD EVEN MAINTAIN MULTI-UNIT PRODUCTION LEVELS BY MYSELF IF REQUIRED. THE CUSTOMER HAD COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN MY DESIGN AND TEND TO CONTACT ME FOR PRODUCT ASSISTANCE AND IMPROVEMENT. BUT NO ONE MENTIONED PROMOTION OR CHANCES TO ME. THEY HIRED EXTERNALLY AND ASKED ME TO TRAIN. ONE HAD A DEGREE IN "PHYSICAL EDUCATION". I WAS DISSUADED FROM APLYING- BY THE DETRACTOR AND OUR NEW MANAGER (NOW FRIENDS).
AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF MANY ENGINEERS AND MANAGER. THE IT DEPARTMENT FORCED THEN TO GIVE ME FULL AUTOCAD. WAS FINALLY GIVEN "FULL AUTOCAD". I FURTHER INCREASED ACCUARCY BY PULLING THE PARTS DATA FROM THE ACTUAL DRAWING DATABASE FOR ACCURACY, ADDED LISP ROUTINES TO CALCULATE PARTS AND QTY'S, AND I BUILT COMMON CALCULATIONS INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS IN AUTOCAD.
I THEN DID ECO'S, ECNS AND PERFORMED PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT AND ERROR REDUCTION WITH THE SYSTEMS' ENGINEER. (ALSO UNDEGREED)- NO LONGER IN ENGINEERING.
I THEN DID ECO'S, ECNS AND PERFORMED PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT AND ERROR REDUCTION WITH THE SYSTEMS' ENGINEER. (ALSO UNDEGREED)- NO LONGER IN ENGINEERING.
MY NEXT MANAGER CALLED ME FOR A MEETING TO ASK WHY MY PAY WAS SO LOW COMPARED TO OTHER ENGINEERS. THAT WAS BEFORE THE COMPANY IMPLEMENTED PAY TRANSPARENCY LATER AFTER I LEFT.
WHEN THEY MADE AN SIGNIFICANT ERROR- I WAS CALLED FROM MY NEW JOB AND ADRESSED IN FRONT OF THE CUSTOMER AS IF I HAD MADE THE ERRORS FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT TO SAVE FACE. MY MANAGER TOLD ME TO STOP SUPPORTING THEIR DEPARTMENT. I GUESS IT WAS ANTICIPATED THEY COULD DUPLICATE MY SKILLS AS I LEFT THE DEPARTMENT. ("INEXPERIENCED", THEY HAD "JUST TAKEN" AN AUTOCAD COURSE). MENU PROGRAMMING IS NOT TAUGHT IN A "LEVEL 1" AUTOCAD CLASS. AND I HAD BEEN "SELF-TAUGHT", SINCE NO SCHOOL, I KNEW OF, TAUGHT A CLASS IN CUSTOMIZATION.
mY FORMER DETRACTOR TAUNTED ME TO SAY THEY HAD BOUGHT AN AUTOCAD BOOK AND WOULD SOON BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER I DEVELOPED. THEY SAT WITH THE BOOK DAILY TRYING TO LEARN AUTOLISP AND MENUS. I HAD BEEN HIRED IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AS AN ENGINEER. AUTOCAD "CHANGED" MAKING THE "MENU SYSTEM I CREATED FOR THEM OBSOLETE" AND REQUIRING RECODING. (MNX CHANGED TO CUIX.
THEY SPENT MONTHS WITH THE ENGINEER AND THE "AUTOCAD BIBLE"- TRYING DUPLICATE MY DEVELOPMENT. 2 YEARS LATER THEY STILL HAD NOT ACCOMPLISHED THIS.
SO IT APPEARS MY DEVELOPMENT "WAS" "HIGHLY USEFUL", "PRODUCTIVE" AND "SIGNIFICANT" ENOUGH TO TRY AND EMULATE.
I WAS INFORMED SOME KEPT THEIR DEVELOPMENT SECRETS TO PICK THEIR REPLACEMENTS WHEN THEY LEFT. SO PEOPLE WERE POSESSIVE OF "PLC AND HMI" DEVELOPMENT, FURTHER LIMITING MY CHANCES AT ADVANCEMENT, WHICH HELPED STALL MY CAREER. I WOULD BE "STELLAR" BY NOW IF I ONLY HAD ANY MENTORING TO GET ME STARTED, LIKE OTHERS AROUND ME.