Monday, April 7, 2008

Out Sourcing hits close to home

Out Sourcing hits close to home, kind of…

We been hearing the horror stories but I’ve tended to think that this will affect someone and else not me. And even though I’m not actually affected by this occurrence it is a lot closer to home than I like.

At Byers Precision some of our business is 5-axis laser cutting. We take a customer’s stamped part and trim the outside and add any necessary holes or cutouts that may be required. In the last year we have been doing prototype work for a large company that will remain unnamed. They have been sending us models created in Unigraphics that we import in SolidWorks and do the necessary transformations so that an IGES files can be exported which is imported into the CAM software that actually runs on top of Catia. (I feel a blog about a universal CAD format coming on.)

The tangency lines of these models are important to us since we use them to line up the model with our model of actual stamped blank. This last set of model did not have any tangency lines in them. We tried all the tricks we know of to get them to show up in SolidWorks to no avail. Finally we called the customer and through a slip of his tongue we found out that the models were created in India. Luckily he knew enough about Unigraphics that he was able to correct the problem and re-send the files. But it makes you wonder what would have happened if he didn’t have a clue what was going on.

I told my co-worker that maybe we need to start working on our Apu Nahasapeemapetilon accent. He then reminded me that neither of us cared for the Indian food at the SolidWorks World 2008 Block Party. I guess that Wal-Mart greeter job is looking better and better.

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  1. Adrian D.April 8, 2008 at 7:15 AM

    There is so much CAD work being done in India and China that what you have noticed is only the tip of the iceberg.

    I get at least 10 resumes a day from CAD operators in India looking to provide me with models and drafting for anywhere from five to ten dollars an hour.

    Thats a great wage in India. With their low prices and their pirate licenses, the only disadvantage they have is the language and distance barriers.

    But plenty of Indian companies have already set up shop in the USA to get around that barrier.

    Your problems with tangency lines notwithstanding, the vast majority of Indian workers are very well educated. They are also highly motivated by the high salaries available in the west.

    Western Colleges and Universities had better do a much better job of attracting students to the technical trades than they are now.

    Or we will all end up working with or for Indian and Chinese companies. If you aint already.

    AdrianD
    www.aaadrafting.com

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