Twitter is worth a look
My friend Derrek Cooper has exposed me to more than a few of the latest greatest tech tools in this modern, web 2.0 world. I became a huge believer in Skype and have moved quite a bit of my world into the clouds.
I drew the line at Twitter, though. Firstly, because the name sounds distinctly unmanly. Secondly, because I thought it was just a bunch of kids IMing the fact that they just ate a sandwich or lost a favorite XBOX game.
After enough high praise from Derrek, I gave it a try. The jury is still out for me, but I like what I see initially. Twitter is a great way to get plugged into like minded industry folks to whom you’d otherwise not have much access.
If you like CAD & CAE, Josh Mings does a much better job of explaining the benefits here: 90+ SolidWorks and 3D CAD Users to Follow on Twitter
Good GTD overview video
A new look for life upfront
I’m finally updating the look and feel of lifeupfront a bit. Probably broke more than I fixed, though. Really appreciate any readers who would shuffle through the site and lemme know if there are any obvious quirks to fix. Thanks!
PS: Stay tuned for a big announcement shortly.
What are you really doing out back in the lab?
Have you recently invested in an upfront CAE tool? Are you about to?
Forget about that for a second. Let’s concentrate on what really happens in your lab.
Do your Engineers typically start with 10 new design variations, build a prototype of each, test them all, and then compare the results to pick the best performer?
Or…
Do your Engineers routinely test 1 prototype to verify it meets spec?
The difference is significant.
One is design innovation.
The other is design verification.
Whichever attitude has historically prevailed in your engineering culture will resurface in your upfront CAE implementation.
Hint:
If you use upfront CAE for design verification, you are missing the point.
It’s the CAD, stupid
Couldn’t resist a political joke 18 days before the election. Neither of these guys will have much power to do anything about the economy. But, the economy does figure to be a primary election criteria. “It’s about the economy, stupid.” all over again.
I suggest you worry about the sphere of economic influence under your direct control. In other words, the economic performance of your company & your house. (Quit worrying about the white house.)
So, what do you do when the going gets tough? Pull a blankie over your head and stop moving until the fear passes? That’s what some of your competitors are doing right now. Are you going to join them or take advantage of the opportunity to outshine them?
Now, more than ever, it’s important to get as efficient as possible. If your Engineers are skipping upfront CAE to build and test another 20 prototypes in the lab, maybe it’s time to put your foot down. Or, at least to understand why.
In many cases, “It’s the CAD, stupid.” Read more…
Upfront CAE might take a little effort
I’ve observed more upfront CAE implementations than most people on the planet. Most go amazingly well. Guys are able to cut at least 50% of the time and $$ they used to spend on physical prototyping & testing. Often more.
On the other hand, there are plenty of folks who relegate upfront CAE to shelfware after poking at it a few times. These people generally share common qualities: they feel overworked, beat down, and let life happen to them.
They all have Engineering backgrounds. They know numbers. They know logic. They totally understand that their current process costs a ton of cash and time and leaves them open to a huge risk of rework. But, they uniformly make the following statement: “Yeah, but I just don’t have time to use upfront CAE.”
What?!?
Come on now. At any point, you can decide not to accept the malaise that has descended upon your corporate culture. You can decide to mark off 1 hour per day from your schedule for personal development. 60 minutes. I’m not calling anyone out here, but think about how many 60 minute periods you killed surfing the Internet last week.
It doesn’t take much effort to rise above the mediocre masses these days. Sometimes you really do just need to show up.
Here’s an inspiring, short read on the topic.
Noise-canceling headphones on the cheap
I love gadgets. No doubt about it. However, I tend to lean towards the simplest solution (even if it’s not the most powerful solution) as I get older.
Electronics are great, but I refuse to add gadgets to my life that require obsessive charging. My cell phone lasts a good while, and it’s the only obsessively-charged-device I’ll tolerate.
I have a good bluetooth travel mouse that maybe needs its double A’s replaced once every 6 months. If it were once a week, I’d be using a wired mouse.
I use a paper notebook that never needs charging.
I refuse to wear a bluetooth headset because I’d have to remember to charge it. Plus, I don’t want to cart around more wires and power supplies in my travel bag.
Plus, I just don’t want to be that guy at the airport.
I do love my iPod and love to listen to audiobooks and podcasts while mowing the lawn. After cranking the volume to overcome the mower engine, I picked up a pair of $17 AO Safety earmuffs at Home Depot. iPod earbuds go in my ears, and the earmuffs go over my ears. Voila. It works!
So, why did it take me this long to try the same thing in an airplane? Worked like a charm! Though, the bright orange kills my cool factor. Who cares. At least I don’t have to worry about battery death in a $350 Bose QuietComfort headset.
Rest in peace, Luke
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About this blog
Jeff Waters CAE industry vet writes mostly about engineering tech & personal interests. -
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