Although full-cloud CAD is relatively new, companies of all sizes have already used Onshape to design surgical robots, industrial and agricultural equipment, medical devices, construction machinery and numerous consumer products. Once entire families of products get defined in Onshape, the entire organization can access the 3D data instantly. This will especially benefit warehouse and order fulfillment operations because workers will always be a hyperlink away from a part or product’s 3D CAD model.

Every Onshape Document, Part Studio, Assembly, Drawing, and Version has its own unique URL address. This URL never changes, so you can cut and paste it into any database – much easier and more convenient than searching for CAD files on a hard drive. So how does this make a difference in your warehouse?

Let’s say that Receiving has a truck coming in to the loading dock. It’s got a pallet full of castings. Your warehouse guy or gal has the order number, but they don’t have the printout showing what the product looks like for verification. Is this the right shipment? Is this the product we ordered? With Onshape, that visual confirmation is as simple as clicking the link. It’s instant CAD access for everybody, anywhere on any device -- as long as they have permission to view it.

In the warehouse, the need for visual references is constant. Let’s say a worker needs to pick out a 57614ZTW flange. She looks over the rack and there’s a carton that is half open and another carton next to it is half open – and parts in the two boxes look indistinguishable without any reference. But pulling up the Onshape Document lets her know exactly which part is the right one.

Onshape is Modern and Affordable CAD

Because the cost of traditional desktop-installed CAD has been prohibitive ($5,000+ for a license and $1,295+ in annual maintenance fees), it’s understandable why 3D tools have been out of reach for most professionals outside the core product design team.

However, the affordability of Onshape ($125/month billed annually) allows companies to take advantage of full-cloud CAD throughout their organizations. Beyond improving order fulfillment and inventory management, here are some other ways that Onshape can improve the way you do business:

  1. Speeding Up Jig & Fixture Design – Although 3D CAD is an essential tool for product design, it has seldom been used to create jigs and fixtures because of the traditionally high cost. But with browser-based Onshape, manufacturing engineers can now design jigs and fixtures on a tablet at their workstations – instead of tripping over each other on the shop floor to use the one computer installed with CAD.

  2. Accelerating Sales Results – Engineers teamed with sales reps can make requested design changes on the spot as impressed prospects follow along on their phones. In addition, Onshape Documents can efficiently aggregate 3D design information with existing customer data for better sales intelligence.

  3. Enriching Customer Engagement & Support – Using Follow Mode and Onshape Comments, you can visually communicate with customers from within your design models and better respond to their needs.

  4. Enhancing Marketing Collateral – The constant need for quality product images shouldn’t be the engineering department’s burden. 3D models and rendered images make press releases, trade show banners and other promotional materials shine.

  5. Improving Communication With Suppliers – Instantly and securely sharing your designs with suppliers helps you quickly source the best components. There are never any software compatibility problems because all Onshape users are always on the same version of CAD – the latest one.

Interesting in learning more? You can fully explore each of the above strategies in the eBook, “Extending CAD’s Business Value Beyond Core Design.” Download your free copy today!