---
title: "Connecting Design to Production: What We Learned at SolidCAD’s Digital Workflows Roundtable"
description: Discover how digital workflows can bridge the gap between design and production in manufacturing. Key takeaways, tools, and expert insights from SolidCAD.
---

[SolidCAD Insights ](https://blog.solidcad.ca/en)

# [Connecting Design to Production: What We Learned at SolidCAD’s Digital Workflows Roundtable](https://blog.solidcad.ca/en/connecting-design-to-production-what-we-learned-at-solidcads-digital-workflows-roundtable)

 Written by [SolidCAD](https://blog.solidcad.ca/en/author/solidcad-) | Jun 9, 2025 3:43:29 PM

 

If you're in **building product manufacturing**, you know the drill: design files go to the shop floor, problems are flagged, changes go back and forth — and suddenly, **deadlines are missed**, costs climb, and efficiency suffers.

 

To tackle these issues, SolidCAD hosted a roundtable discussion with experts to explore how **digital workflows** can better connect design and production teams in the manufacturing space.

 

## Event Recap: Digital Workflows in Building Product Manufacturing

Our virtual session — *Digital Workflows in Building Product Manufacturing: Connecting Design to Production* — brought together technical consultants, strategists, and industry leaders for a practical conversation on breaking down silos and accelerating production.

 

Here are the top takeaways and how you can apply them to your operations.

 

## Common Bottlenecks Between Design and Production

One of the first topics tackled by the panel was the **disconnect between engineering design and the shop floor** — a frequent and costly challenge.

### Top Issues Identified:

- Outdated or disconnected CAD files
- No centralized “single source of truth”
- Manual workflows slowing down operations

The conclusion? Without purposeful coordination and connected tools, even the best designs face friction during production.

 

## Best Practices for Digital Workflow Adoption

SolidCAD’s Kyle Dawe and Canossa Armstrong shared actionable strategies for implementing **scalable digital workflows** in manufacturing environments.

### Key Recommendations:

- **Start small**: Avoid over-customization at the beginning. Automate a few processes, measure the results, and expand gradually.
- **Collaborate early**: Engage both design and production teams during planning to ensure adoption and alignment.
- **Enable real-time collaboration**: Tools like **Fusion 360** and **Autodesk Vault** are most valuable when they enhance collaboration, not just file management.

## Live Demo: Automation in Action

Attendees also experienced a **live demonstration of automation tools** that streamline everyday production tasks, including:

- Generating shop drawings
- Managing BOMs (Bill of Materials)
- Extracting part lists from CAD models

These automated workflows showcased how manufacturers can reduce manual tasks, minimize errors, and **accelerate time-to-market**.

 

## Audience Q&A: Real-World Digital Workflow Challenges

The live Q&A revealed that many teams are grappling with:

- Migrating legacy datasets into new systems
- Aligning workflows across remote or distributed teams
- Scaling pilot programs to full deployment

### A Key Takeaway:

**Digital transformation is more than just adopting software** — it requires leadership, the right mindset, and repeatable processes.

As Kyle Dawe put it:

> “Digital workflows succeed when everyone’s speaking the same language — and the tools are set up to reinforce that, not get in the way.”

## Watch the Full Roundtable On-Demand

Couldn’t attend the live session? Watch the full recording on-demand.

Whether you’re a **manufacturing leader**, **project manager**, or **technical specialist**, this session is packed with actionable tips to streamline your production workflows.

 

 

#### **Not Sure Where to Start?** 

If you’re exploring how to modernize your own design-to-production workflows, SolidCAD can help. 

 

[View full post](https://blog.solidcad.ca/en/connecting-design-to-production-what-we-learned-at-solidcads-digital-workflows-roundtable)

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