Just Hit Cancel

It's so easy - just hit cancel. We've all done it, whether it's by accident or to avoid having to enter some information a software program is asking for.

It was a problem for a CadTempo user that was attempting to record time spent by his AutoCAD users for non-CAD activities. As easy as CadTempo makes it to account for this time, it's still easier to just hit cancel.

You see, CadTempo works a little differently than your normal, run of the mill time tracking software. After the CAD operator is away from his or her computer for a predetermined time, CadTempo will prompt the user to account for that time upon return. The idea behind this is interruptions that require immediate attention many times remains unaccounted for. With CadTempo's Activity Logging enabled all that is involved is selecting a choice from a drop-down box (and optionally add a description).

But too often his CAD operators just hit cancel.

 My customer (an engineering manager) had the problem of attempting to discover the amount of time users were away from their CAD station. Upon his request a default term was added to CadTempo. Now, when his CAD operators just hit cancel the time will be recorded and he will gain new insight into the performance of his team. It won't deliver quite the impact of knowing what activities took place but with the proper coaching over time I'm confident better accounting will take place.

Activity settings with new default selection

If you are wondering what type of information is recorded here's an example spreadsheet that CadTempo generated. The document that is open during the activity is recorded along with the selected activity name. The user may also include additional information to further describe the activity.

Do you want to get a better understanding of your CAD work time, or your team of CAD operators? If so then visit the CadTempo website to download a fully functioning 30 day trial.

CadTempo 6 Preview is released

Collect, Crunch, Convey, Challenge

CadTempo 6 Preview is released, better, stronger, faster.

 

Since its inception, CadTempo has kept the pulse of your CAD and engineering documents, 3D model creators, drafters and CAD users - perhaps like no other time tracking application available. Whether you use AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, Solidworks or a multitude of CAD applications (and even non-CAD applications like Notepad, Excel or Word) CadTempo reports back the amount of hours it takes to create and maintain the drawings and supporting files that are the lifeblood of engineering departments.

 

Now, with CadTempo 6 we’re stepping up our game, so you can too. CadTempo will collect your time investment data, crunch the numbers into usable metrics, and convey the results in numerous charts, graphs, and spreadsheets. Now the challenge for improvement is on you and CadTempo 6 fosters that challenge in an exciting new approach - more on that in future articles.

 

Feast your eyes on these most significant additions in this new release:

 

Active History: Quick, easy chart and spreadsheet listing of most recently worked on files. A dynamic bar graph displays which files have the greatest amount of hours spent. Select a date range, click a button, and done. At the same time a spreadsheet is created listing the files and the amount of time each user spends on the drawings for each day in the selected date range. Click into the desired bar and the selected file will be automatically located in the spreadsheet view.

 

 

Analytics – Applications: Review overall active time spent in all of your applications, production applications and non-production. Each user can be segregated for review or you can examine any grouping of users. In addition to displaying the amount of active time in an application CadTempo gauges the amount of engagement a user is involved with each application. Dynamically sample by week, week to week, or even total hours year to date. Here is a sample bubble graph:

 

 

Analytics – Trend: The trend feature graphs the historical performance that is recorded above. Again each user can be segregated or a group can be examined. You can review all applications, production applications or non-production applications. This can be a very powerful indicator of the value of changes to your system, training, or a number of factors that affect your users motivation and productivity.

Analytics – Orb Trend: The “Orb Trend” is a device that graphs a user’s (or group of users) composite score of several metrics. The Orb can be viewed as a "vessel” that contains the collected metrics. An internal scoring mechanism measures several factors that are based on a user’s performance and displays the progress that is made over a period of time. Like the Trend graph this can be used to gauge the effectiveness of changes that are made to your system.

Timeline: The Timeline displays a graph of user’s work session over a period of time. By selecting the date range a chart is dynamically created that marks a users default expected work session hours and the actual session hours. A separate calendar allows you to record important benchmarks or milestones.

MorphOrb: An odd  name for sure, but it describes the concept behind this new release. The previously mentioned “Analytics-Orb Trend” encapsulates the data that CadTempo collects (the Orb) and presents a graphical overview of users performance metrics. Over time your Orb undergoes a metamorphosis, indicating the direction of a user or group of users productivity, efficiency, or engagement of work. The MorphOrb is intended as a means of comparative analysis among a large group of individuals and organizations that have an interest in determining their strengths or weaknesses based on community historical data. There is much more to this aspect of CadTempo that will be made available in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

To summarize, CadTempo 6 is the ideal tool to Collect, Crunch, and Convey your time data then Challenge you to reach greater productivity through increased motivation and work engagement.

Here is your first challenge: Beat my current score of 39.17

The current download copy of CadTempo 6 is in a state of preview. It is fully functional and is labeled as a preview before the official release.

For a limited time during the preview period you can take advantage of the previous release pricing. The CadTempo pricing and purchase web page include a comparison of present and future pricing.

You can download a fully functional copy of CadTempo here: http://www.cadtempo.com/

CAD Time Tracking: Management or Micromanagement?

I participate in a number of social media outlets. From Google+ to various online AutoCAD and other Autodesk product forums such as CADTutor and the AUGI Forums  and even some good old fashioned newsgroups. My primary motivation for participation is to contribute what I can to the body of knowledge regarding AutoCAD. I don't contribute as much as I would like and certainly not as much as many, but my hope is that it is helpful.

Periodically questions come up where someone wants to know how to capture the time spent working on their drawings, or they may have a need to know who has worked on a drawing and when. They may be looking for an easy means of automating their timesheets. Since CadTempo serves as solution to these needs I suggest they try it for the free 30 day trial. Often, a discussion follows when a reader finds the idea of time tracking objectionable for one reason or the other. One reason that is given is the opinion that time tracking constitutes micromanagement.

You would be correct to assume that I am of a different opinion but you may also be surprised to know that I can see how time tracking can indeed be mis-used in a micromanagement way. My desire is that it not be used in that way, but of course I have no control over that. I encourage its use as a macromanagement tool. That is, by using CadTempo to track and analyse time associated with drawing production and establishing benchmarks, a systematic review of current practices can be made and adjustments can be implemented to produce a more efficient and productive environment.

What are your thoughts?