Company won't follow standards

[shezacat]

My boss constantly complains about 'standards', but he's really talking about the ones he made up. He insists that we do all drawings on one level! Should I stay here or find a better job?

 

[wgchere]

Stay there while you're looking for that better job!

...Or wait for him in your car and run over him in the parking lot

 

[shezacat]

Yeah, I thought about that. I'll keep looking. I'm entry-level, and I desperatly want to work for someone who'll teach me correctly. I don't want to end up with a lot of useless experience.

 

[borgunit]

You might take the lead and help set the standards with him. Set up a template file and start from there. You can use AutoCAD standards like AutoCAD Mechanical or another vertical product they have. There standards are built in and can be somewhat standardized across other companies since other buyers of these products have the settings set for them too.
We use Mechanical BTW and it keeps our three plants Germany-USA-Brazil in sync pretty well.

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." — Will Rogers

 

[JStephen]

Does "one level" mean "one layer"?

If so, is there any easy way to move everything from multiple layers to one layer before you hand it over to him?

Personally, I'd evaluate the job on other issues, and not just that. From what I've seen of drafters, a lot of the useful experience they have (or don't have) is not with AutoCAD, but with the doohickeys they're drawing- so consider that end of it as well. Assuming that you can establish some coherent drafting standard, then change jobs and find that the new company is using those identical standards is not a good assumption.

 

[xgrigorix]

I wouldn't just outright run away for that one reason alone. As you are entry level, there is a lot of stuff out there for you to learn, and not necessarily just regarding the use of autocad. Just because your boss is a choob on cad standards doesn't mean he can't teach you anything.
Hopefully other aspects of your job are rewarding.

You can also learn a lot about autocad by seeing how people misuse it. If you're looking at it and thinking that there's a faster/simpler/better way, then you're probably looking at autocad abuse. Just file it away, soak up as much useful knowledge as you can, and move on when things are no longer to your liking.

 

[IFRs]

Another possibility is to write a macro that creates layers and moves entities based on their color, lineweight or type and can just as easily move them back. Then you can run the macro, manipulate the drawing, run the macro again and put everything back (and purge your layers). They will never know!!

 

[shezacat]

Yep, one layer. I just don't know how long they'll let me stay. My boss is complaining that he has no problem teaching me steel detailing, but he shouldn't have to teach me AutoCAD. There is no problem with my AutoCAD work, except that they went looney-tunes because I used different layers. If they want to change something, they don't want to have to change layers. WHAAAAAT? I can do it their way, but it would have been nice if they had warned me. Or at least been a little easy with the criticism. I got ripped!

 

[ctopher]

Do you have to wear uniforms and have no facial hair?
Seems to me your boss never learned CAD properly and is looking for the easy way out. If you send CAD dwgs to vendors or customers, send them one with the 1 layer and ask for their input.

Chris
Systems Analyst
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 05
AutoCAD 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[shezacat]

It's considered a cardinal sin here to allow anyone outside the company to see anything but the printed result. We wear no uniforms, and I wouldn't know about the facial hair (never having had any). I did get a phone call from a gentleman interested in hiring me to learn architectural drafting. The pay would be a little less, but it might be worth it.

 

[borgunit]

If I were you, I would try to help them work more efficiently under their "system". Little LISP routines to change linetypes to hidden or whatever. Flipping lineweights visually ON/OFF. Show them that you know how to work to the best degree (who knows, someday you might have your bosses job).

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." — Will Rogers

 

[diamondjim]

Quit fighting it. Change jobs or
adapt to their ignorance. They is
how many? Better to have your
mental health with less pay.

 

[thalon]

How does your boss create line with different styles and colours and weights?
Did he learn on Microstation. Microstation (earlier edition) did not have layers the same as autocad, and each entity was in control of its own weight colour and style. There was a button to allow you to set the current colour, weight, and style base on the selection of an existing entity. Perhapse you could write a lisp to set the current colour, weight and style for drawing new elements based on the selection of an existing one?

I've changed jobs in the past for less money in hopes it get better experience, plus I didn't enjoy where I had been previously working.

Good luck.

 

[JStephen]

From what you said, I don't really understand why they don't like using different layers. It's a moot point, anyway, you're probably not going to change that.

"Boss complains about standards but they're the ones he made up." If he's the boss, that IS the standard.

I'm not THE boss, but sort of "A" boss, but was the only one in the office doing AutoCAD. We hired another engineer, who insisted on doing his drawings his way. Then one day, he says "We should have some standards for this." Well, duh. My way WAS the standard until he did things differently.

 

[shezacat]

My boss is the OWNER. There are three of us, and I am the only one NOT self-taught. DiamondJim and thalon, you are correct and I accepted another job Friday with an Architectural Drafting firm. Thanks for all the input, you guys are super! JStephen, I don't think they truly understand what layers are for, as they print from model view and never bother with layouts. Thalon, my schooling was with AutoCAD, but I began working with Microstation, then switched to Autocad. I won't say which I prefer! Wish me luck!

 

[diamondjim]

Shezacat,
I hope you had an exit interview so you
could express your views about their
ignorance of the value of layers. It
might help the next person they hire.
Sure!

Good luck with your new job.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Speaking _at_all_ at an exit interview is not a good idea.

Anything you say can be taken out of context and used to defame you.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[shezacat]

MikeHalloran, you are exactly correct. Most companies are not at all interested in improving their working environment. I once worked for a company with massive safety program. They did their best to convince employees that they did it all for the sole benefit of the workers, but their safety record was no better then their competitor which had a safety program designed only to meet minimum requirements to stay in business. Just say "we're protecting our company from lawsuits". I can accept that.