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INTRODUCTION
A client engaged ARKANCE to conduct a Rapid Review of its AutoCAD Plant 3D environment, with the goal of improving model reliability, drawing production efficiency, and multi-user coordination. The review was delivered as a 2-hour interactive session supported by a detailed analysis of their project template and recent Plant 3D projects. Findings were summarised in a Recommendation Report outlining practical opportunities to improve workflows and recover time across recurring tasks.
CUSTOMER PROFILE
A 15-person mechanical and process engineering consultancy using AutoCAD Plant 3D across piping and equipment layouts, P&ID development, and isometric documentation.
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KEY ISSUES IDENTIFIED
Project templates and piping specs were inconsistent, causing frequent formatting and setup errors
Routing tools and parametric equipment were underused, with manual 3D modelling still common
Isometric outputs required significant manual clean-up due to poor style configuration
Tagging and metadata were managed manually, leading to errors and coordination issues
Users frequently worked on local copies, leading to data duplication and corruption
Collaboration across multiple users was unreliable due to poor project management practices
P&ID workflows were disconnected from the 3D environment, with no data validation in place
ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
20 hours per user per year saved by using standardised templates and preconfigured specs
32 hours per user per year saved by adopting spec-driven routing and equipment tools
40 hours per user per year saved through automated generation of isometric and orthographic drawings
13 hours per user per year saved by improving tagging workflows and using Data Manager
75 hours per user per year saved through multi-user collaboration in Autodesk Construction Cloud
13 hours per user per year saved by linking P&ID and 3D model data
33 hours per user per year saved by applying best practices through training
Combined, the team was projected to save approximately 3,300–3,500 hours per year, equating to $165,000–$175,000 in annual productivity gains based on standard billable rates.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Introduce standardised templates, spec files, and isometric styles to reduce setup time and formatting issues
Train users on spec-driven routing and equipment tools to reduce manual modelling effort
Configure automated drawing generation tools for ISO and Ortho outputs to minimise rework
Implement consistent tagging structures and use Data Manager to improve metadata integrity
Centralise projects using Autodesk Vault or Construction Cloud to support multi-user access and reduce data loss
Link P&ID data to the 3D environment using validation rules and shared tag formats
CONCLUSION
This Rapid Review highlighted several opportunities to better leverage built-in features of AutoCAD Plant 3D, reduce avoidable rework, and strengthen data integrity across the project lifecycle. With modest implementation effort, the company stands to recover substantial time and improve quality and collaboration across all stages of delivery.