A test was carried out recently to make a comparison of using a simple routine to automate tasks against having to draw a set of selected objects by using AutoCAD commands.    

The task was to draw a plan, elevation and section of 3 different steelwork sizes and section types in a quick a time as possible, to scale and in an appropriate layer.

By using the routine the selected objects were drawn in approximately 3 minutes and drawn to the exact size and scale required. Using the conventional commands AutoCAD has to offer, the same task was completed in approximately 28 minutes. This then gave a time saving of 25 minutes. For the sake of argument lets us say that the time saved was 30 minutes and let us try to put that into a total cost saving over say, one year.  

If one person were to use that routine just once a day every week of the year then that would represent a time saving of

5 days x 52 weeks x 30 minutes = 7800 minutes of time = 130 man hours.

If you then say that the time charge for that person was for arguments sake say £40.00 per hour then that would give a cost saving for that one person of

130 x 40 = £5,200.00 per year.

Remember, this is just one person using the routine once a day. What if, for example 4 people used it twice a day. Well, that would give a saving of

£41,600.00 

Can you afford not to think about it?