There is a vast selection of valuable design tools available today, and yet many companies struggle to implement the best ones.  In today’s episode, Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by an impartial expert who understands the importance of successfully choosing and using the best design tools.  Author and owner of Dezignstuff Matt Lombard started as a musician in the Navy and his career has taken unexpected turns that have led him to work in which he has truly excelled, even if he isn’t exactly passionate about it.  Matt shares some of the reasons that so many companies experience challenges when adopting new tools and how to more successfully implement those tools, as well as valuable career advice about the steps that anyone can take to position themselves as an expert in their field. 

 

On today’s podcast, you will learn about:

The variety of tools but still an administrative gap

• Why are there so many tools to choose from but companies are still experiencing gaps that result in administrative challenges? 
• The loyalty of tool producers and their users can create unnecessary challenges when trying to implement the best tools for the job. 
• A willingness to embrace change will ease the integration of new products. 

 

How to successfully implement new tools

• Expect that the transition will take time to implement.
• Recognize the traditional methods that will have to be given up when transitioning a new workflow. 
• Expand processes without breaking the bridge to valuable legacy experiences. 

 

The effect of additive manufacturing in the design process 

• Point-based data is becoming more and more important to the mechanical engineer. 
• Subdivision modeling has been kept at arm’s length until now because of 3D printing. 
• Many design advances are a direct result of 3D printing becoming so popular.
• More tools are available than ever, they just need to be taken advantage of. 

 

How to position yourself as an expert in your field

• Don’t underestimate the value of opportunities that appear unexpectedly in your career path.
• Set career goals but be flexible as you work to meet them. 
• Align your talents with a field that you are interested in even more than the areas you are passionate about. 

 

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org

 

Shareables:

[21:54] “Mechanical engineers involved in design need to have a little bit of any eye for the aesthetic.” — Matt Lombard 

[26:17] “These advances are all a direct result of 3D printing becoming so popular.” — Matt Lombard 

[29:30] “The tools are there and I wish a lot more people were taking advantage of them” — Matt Lombard 

[32:54] “Don’t underestimate the value of opportunities that appear unexpectedly.” — Matt Lombard