CAD DRAFTING AND DESIGN SERVICE SELECTION PROCESS-Part 1
Your Keys to ObtainingQuality Cad Services

This article discusses the evaluation and selection process for a cad drafting and design service, however, this general term will be also used to identify other similar type services such as cad drafting services, cad services and design service firms.

The selection process for a cad drafting and design service can be a daunting task. If you are not careful, you could be left paying for cad services prematurely producing unsatisfactory results. Prior to retaining a cad drafting and design service, there are four key questions in the selection process that the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) firm or any potential client must consider in the evaluation and eventual selection of a cad drafting and design service.

Four Key Questions

What is your cad/project experience?
What is the background of the owners or key staff members?
How will the cad drafting service interface with your AEC firm?
What role will the cad drafting and design service play in the fill organization?  

Question No.1 – What is your project/cad experience?

Project experience is probably the single most important question to have answered in your search for a reputable cad drafting and design service. Some website oriented cad drafting services mask their inexperience with websites that have flashy and impressive graphics, beautiful and enticing renderings, and better yet, offerings of extremely low fees. What is the design or engineering professional to do with what seems to be an insurmountable amount of talented cad drafting services to choose from. The undertaking of finding good talent can seem quite overwhelming at first. We will define a course action for the AEC client seeking out such services.

Mirror your selection process as if you were hiring an employee by doing the following

Ask for a project history or project list 
Ask for a portfolio or samples of work 
Ask for professional references 

Project History

When questioning your potential cad service candidates about project history, the cad service should be able to provide a summary of projects worked on. It is advised that the summary should contain a project overview, construction cost of project if available and the role of the cad drafting service, such as what phase of the design process did the cad drafting service participate in. If the cad drafting service participated in the construction document phase, then it should be stated. If the cad service participated in the schematic design or design development phase(s), that should be stated as well.

Portfolio or Samples of Work

The portfolio of a cad drafting and design service is the calling card of the business. It is equivalent of a brochure for an automobile dealership. The portfolio demonstrates the abilities and or talent of an individual or team. It can also be used to determine an individual’s technical ability and understanding of building codes or lack thereof. One’s portfolio may consist of technical drawings, photography, graphic illustrations, renderings or combination of all the fore-mentioned.

Professional References

References give a potential client the opportunity to have direct contact of a past client who has dealt directly with the cad drafting and design service in question. Potential clients should call references to determine how the cad drafting and design service performed and whether the performance met expectations or not. References can also give valuable input as to the problems that occurred during the contract period and how it was resolved.

PROJECT EXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ON

Design Concepts’ cad drafting and design service has the experience that you need to complete your projects in a timely manner. See our Cad Experience page and compare us to the competition.

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