How things can go wrong

The ways to cause a 3D CAD implementation to fail are fairly straightforward:

1. Ignore changes (both internal and external to your company) effecting your current 3D CAD implementation
2. Underestimate the negative impact an individual user can have on your overall implementation
3. Underestimate the time and funds required to fully implement 3D CAD
4. Under staff your computer system support efforts (system management, application support, and database management)
5. Poorly train (improper, limited, or dated training of the users and system support personnel)
6. Fail to reinforce training with hands-on experience (minimum of 20 hours per week)
7. Limit or get incorrect management feedback based on the lack of objective methods for the measurement of individual users abilities with the system
8. Lack of or poorly defined standards and procedures
9. Well defined standards and procedures which are not implemented through custom software (seed files, programs, and menus)
10. Close communication lines between management and computer system users
11. Middle management not committed to the implementation
12. Poor or improper software to task selection and/or grossly undersized/over-sized system producing low Return-On-Investment (ROI)

To summarize: low management involvement and understanding during the beginning phases of your 3D CAD implementation will limit their ability to affect the overall success and will increase the need for management intervention later during the implementation cycle.

Source:
Victor Bradley and Thomas Riddle