Starting a Drafting business may seem a bit risky considering the number companies in this area offering Engineering, Architectural and Design services. It was our sense that there were a number companies in this area who just needed occasional drafting support. The response to JCDS has been exceeded our expectations and in the first 8 months of operation we have received and completed over 30 projects from a variety of different clients.
These clients include Engineers, Architects, Designers and Steel Fabricators who needed drafting support on a short term basis, or on a particular project. We have provided drawings in a number of different drafting disciplines including Building Structural, Site Plans, Vessels, Heat Exchangers, Tanks, Steel Detailing, Process Flow etc…
Jeff Currie:
I worked for T. W. Gray & Assoc. Eng. Ltd. (Terry Gray) for 34 years, from 1980 until 2014. I really enjoyed my time with this company and working for Terry. The atmosphere during my time in the office was exceptional. In 2008, we were very busy and Terry had hired additional staff to meet the need. He asked if I could work at home and gladly agreed.
Working from home:
While working at home from 2008 until 2014, it became clear to me this was a much more effective way to complete work and meet the needs of the Engineers, Architects and Designers. I wasn’t limited to normal office hours, there were less distractions and communication was a simple as making a phone call or sending an E-Mail. How often does somebody in an office send an E-Mail or a Text message to somebody down the hall, rather than walk to their work station or office ?
JCDS:
The experience of working from home led me to starting JCDS. It is unlikely that a draftsman in today’s Engineering office would get the opportunity to do the variety of work that I did while at T. W. Gray Eng. I was taught a number drafting disciplines by exceptional professionals on how to present the necessary information to the builder, field or shop person in a clear and concise way. Working at home, has allowed us to keep overhead to minimum, and that translates to affordable drafting costs for our clients.
3D CAD Programs:
There seems to be dozens of 3D CAD programs available for Engineerings, Architects and Designers to help with the concept and design process. Any Client looking at a 3D model of their project would have to be impressed. You might even see some of these 3D drawings mounted on an office wall but it’s unlikely you would see a builder, field or shop person using them. It’s difficult, if not impossible to translate the appropriate information to the builder. At JCDS we produce drawings using AutocadLT, in 2D, it’s just more practical.
Drafting:
Drafting is a form of communication between the designer and the builder and is normally presented on sheets of paper. In the early days this was done with a pencil and straight edge, now we produce these drawings electronically using a computer, software and a printer. Although a Draftsman job has changed a bit over the years, the idea is still the same. The more a Draftsman knows about the subject, the more useful they are to the designer. At JCDS we understand how important it is that the Engineers, Architects and Designers intentions are presented to the builder or fabricator in an effective and accurate way.
