Speed up designs, with fewer errors and rework
30-Second Summary
The problem with manual CAD updates
Custom manufacturers spend hours copying files, updating dimensions, and generating BOMs for every new order, increasing the risk of errors and rework.
Rules-based automation
DriveWorks captures engineering knowledge as reusable rules that automatically generate accurate SOLIDWORKS models, drawings, and assemblies.
Consistent outputs guaranteed
Rules-driven logic replaces manual checklists and spreadsheets, ensuring design standards are met at every stage.
Bottleneck removal
Automated workflows reduce dependency on manual intervention, freeing engineering teams from repetitive design requests.
Proven time savings
Manufacturers using DriveWorks have cut design times dramatically - Liftech reduced crane drawings from four days to under ten minutes.
Engineering teams in custom manufacturing spend a lot of time creating “same but different” designs. Manually updating dimensions, creating drawings, and checking documents for every new order is time-consuming, slows down design cycles, and increases the risk of errors and rework.
DriveWorks design automation solution for SOLIDWORKS® enables manufacturers to speed up designs, improve accuracy, and free engineers to focus on innovation rather than repetitive CAD tasks.
Why do design errors and rework happen?
Manual engineering processes often involve:
- Copying existing CAD files
- Updating dimensions and configurations
- Creating BOMs and manufacturing documentation
- Checking design rules and standards manually
As design volumes increase, so does the risk of errors. Even small errors can result in incorrect designs, additional engineering rework, and manufacturing delays.
When engineering teams spend large amounts of time reviewing and correcting designs, overall design output is reduced, and engineers have less time to work on higher-value design projects.
How does DriveWorks design automation make a difference?
DriveWorks design automation captures engineering knowledge and uses it in rules-based design workflows. Instead of manually recreating designs for every order, engineers define the rules once. Those rules are then automatically applied whenever a new product configuration is generated. The result is a faster design process that significantly reduces the risk of human error.
DriveWorks enables manufacturers of custom products to:
- Save and reuse engineering knowledge
- Automatically generate accurate designs
- Reduce errors and reworks
- Remove bottlenecks
Save and reuse engineering knowledge
Engineering rules are the logic behind how products are designed and configured. They often represent many years of engineering experience.
DriveWorks saves engineering knowledge as reusable rules, ensuring consistency and reducing reliance on individual expertise. This means taking knowledge from spreadsheets, emails, product catalogs, and the heads of engineers and turning it into a digitally documented set of rules.
Automatically generate accurate designs
DriveWorks design automation enables:
- Automatic creation of SOLIDWORKS models, drawings, and assemblies
- Automatic BOM generation
- Manufacturing-ready documentation
This reduces the volume of manual CAD work, improves error rates, and significantly shortens design cycles.
Reduce errors and rework
DriveWorks uses rules-based design logic to automatically generate designs, removing the reliance on checklists and spreadsheets. This reduces the risk of human error and rework associated with inaccurate designs.
Consistency across design outputs is also guaranteed. DriveWorks rules-driven technology ensures that design standards are met at every stage of the process, maintaining design consistency and quality.
Remove bottlenecks
When engineering teams become overwhelmed by repetitive design requests, the result is bottlenecks that also impact sales, manufacturing, and operations.
DriveWorks removes these bottlenecks by simplifying and accelerating the design process. Automated workflows reduce dependency on manual intervention and enable teams to work together more efficiently.
To learn how DriveWorks can support your design process, explore DriveWorks with MECAD Systems.
Content adapted from the original blog post published by DriveWorks.
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