For the past eight years, Autodesk and MFG.com have quietly and informally supported each other’s position within the manufacturing community. As the recognized standard for 2D design tools and the leading provider of 3D modeling solutions, Autodesk has had a significant and positive impact on productivity gains within the engineering and manufacturing worlds. Over the course of the last eight years, MFG.com has emerged as the leading global online marketplace for the manufacturing economy – enabling designers and suppliers to find each other and work together in a far more efficient manner than ever before. During those eight years, a significant majority of the designs that have been sourced on MFG.com originated within Autodesk solutions.

MFG.com is a proponent of 3D design in general and of Digital Prototyping in particular. Within our marketplace, we’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact 3D has on the sourcing process. Simply put, RFQs that utilize 3D models attract attention from the higher quality suppliers and tend to get better responses – in terms of accuracy, completeness of quoting and value-based pricing. And 3D modeling is inherently a better platform on which to collaborate. As a result, potential vendors that have made the commitment to support 3D are far more likely to become long term partners – helping to drive down costs in the design stage, where its impact is far greater than playing catch-up in the manufacturing stage.

For those of you already using Inventor, I’m sure you fully appreciate the capabilities and value that is delivered by this amazing tool. I am amazed at all the things that Inventor does, given its relatively low cost. Just ten years ago, such a tool was almost unimaginable for any company other than the largest. But now, a solitary consultant has access to the same powerful design tools as Boeing or GE, at a cost that can be recouped with the first project.

And if you haven’t yet made the move to 3D, it’s time you do. At the risk of being too blunt, if you don’t commit to 3D soon, you run the real risk of becoming technologically irrelevant. An engineer’s value to himself and his customer is tied directly to his or her ability to keep current with relevant breakthroughs, information and tools. Being fluent in 3D will soon be necessary just to stay in the game. A great way to start the learning process is with Autodesk’s Inventor LT offering. LT is a slimmed-down version of Inventor, focusing on single parts rather than assemblies. It also doesn’t have the high-end analysis capabilities as its big brother, but it does leverage the same powerful 3D modeling engine, is easy to use and is fully compatible with Inventor. There is also a host of training tools available and many Autodesk resellers have training programs.

As the world’s leading online marketplace for the manufacturing community, we will help you find a qualified supplier for your designs – at no cost to you. We have a global network of suppliers, across a very broad range of specialties and processes, many of which are sure to match your needs. And while we can help you find the lowest cost provider, it is our goal to find you a supplier that is able to deliver the right balance of quality, insight, timeliness, professionalism and cost. So, remember: “Make something, with Autodesk and MFG.com!”