At SPK and Associates we are often asked for direction with respect to versioning control systems. The management of software and related artifacts is core to your development process and a key factor in determining the operational productivity of your...
Choosing and evaluating products for managing data is a daunting task. With the ease of access to broad, general information – which is often conflicting – getting your decision-makers and Very Important People using the same vocabulary is the first step to developing...
One of the most time-consuming tasks as an IT Administrator is setting up a new workstation for a new user. A workstation is typically a laptop these days, but could still be a traditional Windows desktop or possibly a Linux-based workstation. As part of SPK's...
I just came to the realization that I've been working with Network Appliance filers for over a decade now. They're great -- rock solid stability, an ever expanding feature set, excellent tech support, and they're certified against many enterprise applications...
Organizations are increasingly turning to Model-Based Definition (MBD) to revolutionize their engineering and manufacturing processes. By embedding rich, digital annotations directly into 3D models, MBD provides a single source of truth for product definitions. This...
Engineering students across the globe often get their first exposure to 3D CAD tools in college. For many, the default software is Solidworks, thanks to its long-standing presence in educational programs. But what happens when these students graduate and enter...
The manufacturing industry is getting more competitive, with engineers expected to deliver the most efficient, cost-effective designs. Meeting the high standards of the industry and client specifications is only possible with the proper tools. PTC’s CAD solution,...
The digital landscape is constantly changing, leaving businesses scrambling to adapt to new technologies and processes. Tools once used as the backbone for these businesses are now outdated. Legacy systems are a perfect example of this. Although they used to be...
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) represent a major growth strategy for many companies, particularly in the technology, manufacturing, and engineering sectors. However, integrating two (or more) companies is never a simple task. The challenge is not only in...
According to Deloitte, 40% of the average engineer’s time is spent looking for information. This issue could be resolved with effective data management. Deciding which platform to store your organization’s data in can be difficult, as there are many great options on...
When working in the engineering and manufacturing fields, it is common to encounter unfamiliar terms. In this glossary, we define important terms that describe processes and components in the engineering, manufacturing, service, and sustainability industries. General...
Computer Aided Design has replaced manual design drafting, but with the rise of vCAD will traditional CAD systems also be replaced? Traditional CAD systems work well for designing accurate design representations, but they require extremely powerful (and expensive)...