my job
As a Drafting Manager, I find that my position has two definitions:
The first definition is that I manage the Drafting. All drafting work for our Concrete and Steel divisions comes to me first. It is my responsibility to determine which drafter should draft a project based on many factors including individual abilities, project deadlines, work load at the Shop, and project duration. As a project is being drafted, I make sure that drafters don't end up wasting time while waiting for needed information or decisions; sometimes I can provide the information or decisions, while other times I must hunt it down. After 17 years of experience on hundreds of varying types of bridges, I'm usually the first stop for questions - and answers. I regularly provide insight into project "constructability" to the Sales and Engineering departments. Over the years I have managed between 3 and 7 employees at a time and have performed interviews & terminations, worked with recruiters to fill positions, recorded sick time & vacation time, and given performance reviews. I also check concrete and steel bridge plans, grading plans, culvert plans, steel bridge shop fabrication plans, and bills of materials.
The second definition is that I'm a Manager who drafts. The first step in a bridge project is for me to work out the geometry of the structure based on an Engineer's checklist, current MnDOT manuals, and Company bridge standards. Often times the bridge has no skew or curves and the geometry is easy; sometimes I have to determine how to integrate curved roadways, massive skews, sidewalks, light posts, medians, or guardrails into the project. Eventually I assign most projects to one of my drafters to complete the final plan with full detailing, but I typically work on the most difficult bridge projects until completion. Because of our close relationship with MnDOT, I am responsible for keeping our CAD standards library up to date and adjusting associated spreadsheets as needed.
The first definition is that I manage the Drafting. All drafting work for our Concrete and Steel divisions comes to me first. It is my responsibility to determine which drafter should draft a project based on many factors including individual abilities, project deadlines, work load at the Shop, and project duration. As a project is being drafted, I make sure that drafters don't end up wasting time while waiting for needed information or decisions; sometimes I can provide the information or decisions, while other times I must hunt it down. After 17 years of experience on hundreds of varying types of bridges, I'm usually the first stop for questions - and answers. I regularly provide insight into project "constructability" to the Sales and Engineering departments. Over the years I have managed between 3 and 7 employees at a time and have performed interviews & terminations, worked with recruiters to fill positions, recorded sick time & vacation time, and given performance reviews. I also check concrete and steel bridge plans, grading plans, culvert plans, steel bridge shop fabrication plans, and bills of materials.
The second definition is that I'm a Manager who drafts. The first step in a bridge project is for me to work out the geometry of the structure based on an Engineer's checklist, current MnDOT manuals, and Company bridge standards. Often times the bridge has no skew or curves and the geometry is easy; sometimes I have to determine how to integrate curved roadways, massive skews, sidewalks, light posts, medians, or guardrails into the project. Eventually I assign most projects to one of my drafters to complete the final plan with full detailing, but I typically work on the most difficult bridge projects until completion. Because of our close relationship with MnDOT, I am responsible for keeping our CAD standards library up to date and adjusting associated spreadsheets as needed.