Our cost-conscious work environment forces the average business to operate leaner and meaner than before. At the same time, the demands customers place on their suppliers continue to grow by the day. So, how can a business meet its customers' expectations while maintaining some form of fiscal sanity? One basic step many companies take is to outsource specific, highly specialized functions. In foodservice, CAD services seem to be a natural for this transition.

I was not in this industry long before it became apparent to me that the workflow is never constant. You are either “sitting on your hands” or “not able to keep up.” No scenario falls in between those two extremes. In the past, when the workload increased, consultants or dealers would hire another draftsman. This met the immediate need, but it also meant the business realized significant additional costs that come with new employees. As a result, when the workload dropped off, a layoff would soon follow.

With this ebb and flow remaining part of our industry fabric, relying on contractors to perform specific duties makes perfect sense for dealers and consultants. The industry already has made this transition when it comes to installers and refrigeration specialists. Computer drafting fits the mold as well. In fact, as the pool of experienced foodservice CAD operators continues to shrink, many members of the industry may move to an outsourcing model for this expertise based on pure need. And with seemingly fewer and fewer young people entering the industry in an engineering capacity, this trend will become more prominent.

Outsourcing CAD services becomes an appealing concept given the industry standardization of these related procedures. With the use of standard layering styles, equipment blocks, etc., the procedures and contributions provided by an independent CAD operator should blend together creating a work familiarity or comfort level regardless of the project or client.

Contractual CAD can go one step further, combining these same industry standards along with all aspects of foodservice drafting. Chances are the independent CAD operator does a variety of drafting duties, such as sales presentation, mechanical rough-in and shop drawings. When contracted to do work, such as hired to do plan, schedule and mechanicals, the CAD operator assimilates the various aspects in the document presentation and can point out possible problems in the drawings, such as a wing wall obstructing access to a built-in hood fire suppression system. This gives the dealer or consultant that extra pair of eyes to review a project.

The largest matter of concern that I have run into is what I call the fear of distance. Many consultants and dealers continue to ask, “How can anyone living 3,000 miles away possibly get the job done faster than a person here in my own office?” And they follow this question with, “What if questions on the project arise?” The easiest way to lay this fear to rest is by meeting the first project deadline. In fact, I have one client I have worked with for 12 years and we have never met face to face. We could pass on the street and not recognize one other. Yet with all our communication marvels, we achieve an “in office” comfort level.

Contractual services can provide more than simply allowing a small dealer or consultant to provide high-quality drawings despite having limited resources. Contracting these services gives these professionals more time to do what they do best: marketing for new clients and concentrating on design. Larger consultants and dealers also benefit when contracting CAD services by allowing them to produce high-quality, professional documents in an overflow situation.