Move from AutoCAD LT to AutoCAD Electrical boosts efficiency

EDM designs and supplies a diverse range of high-quality simulation and training products for the defence, commercial transport and airline sectors. Two years ago EDM established an in-house electrical design facility and was using AutoCAD LT software to produce electrical drawings.

With the volume of work steadily increasing, EDM realised that in order to drive efficiencies and enhance productivity, it needed to move to a package that had been developed specifically for electrical design. Working with local Autodesk reseller Quadra Solutions, EDM decided to migrate to AutoCAD Electrical.

According to Alan Nicholson, the systems engineering manager at EDM, the decision was straightforward: "We are confident that the solution will support better design accuracy, by enabling us to eliminate error-prone manual processes.

"With AutoCAD Electrical, our engineers can rapidly choose panel types and sizes, lay them out in a mechanical representation and immediately transfer them into a schematic as part of an automated process. This saves significant user time, enabling the business to conserve money and resources and shorten the product development cycle.

"We were also impressed with the functional range of the system and how well it meets our specific requirements. Almost every component we use in our panel design process is contained within AutoCAD Electrical's parts library. In addition, many of our designers have prior experience of AutoCAD, which will significantly shorten the learning curve."

Automated reports

This enhanced accuracy even extends to the reporting process. AutoCAD Electrical generates a wide range of automated reports including bills of materials and from-to wire lists to minimise the errors that can occur with manual reports.

Ben McGovern of Quadra Solutions states: "The challenges EDM faced are not uncommon. The demands placed upon electrical design businesses means generic drafting software will not deliver the productivity increase they need to keep them competitive."

For EDM, AutoCAD Electrical is likely to come into its own when producing civil aviation simulators for training purposes - a key area of its business. In carrying out this work, EDM has a common core of design, which repeatedly needs slight but rapid modification to meet the demands of individual airline orders. EDM is confident it will be able to carry out this process much more quickly and easily with AutoCAD Electrical than with a plain drawing package.

For more information about AutoCAD Electrical, go to www.autodesk.co.uk/products/autodesk-autocad-electrical/overview.