CAT Tale - A Customer Training Success Story
Greenlee Textron - Rockford, IL

Greenlee is the premier source for professional grade tools when it comes to installing wire and cable.  From hole making and bending to test and measurement, you can depend on Greenlee tools to outlast and outperform the competition every time.

Greenlee-Textron acquired SolidWorks in late 2002 and began their training right away.  Making the switch from CADkey to SolidWorks represented more than just a change in design tools.  It also introduced a paradigm shift in how one approaches design within a parametric environment.  The management team at Greenlee understood the value of investing not simply in the new technology, but also in training those who were tasked with using the new software, and to help those users transition smoothly.

The goal was to teach all users the basics as quickly as possible, and with the same approach.  This was handled with on-site training for 40 users, 10 users per week for 4 weeks.  This was highly convenient for the Greenlee staff.

CATI actually brought the instructor here.", said Designer, Dan Hale. 

"It allowed us to get our users trained quickly and easily, and we were also able to eliminate any travel expenses.

Buttressing that initial training investment with additional and advanced training was the next goal. 

Greenlee personnel designated the different types of users within the organization in order to align the appropriate training to each individual.  They determined their 10-12 power users based on where they were located and how often they would be using the new tool.  These folks were enrolled in CATI's CATalyst Program - CATalyst membership gives the customer the opportunity to choose any or all of CATI's wide variety of SolidWorks core and industry-specific classes for one full year, including supplementary membership, the CAT-PhD support and the Certified SolidWorks Professional (CWSP) exam. 

Hale said that he and another power user successfully completed all of the CATalyst courses offered and went on to pass the CSWP exam.  Coupled with his desire to embrace the new tool and to ramp up quickly, Hale said that partnering with CATI absolutely helped him to achieve Certified status.

The training definitely prepared us, said Hale who noted that his experience has helped open up other opportunities for him like training fellow users and getting involved with other areas of the business.  CATI's instructors know their stuff and do a good job teaching it.  They give you the feeling that they actually care about your success.

More information on the CATI Catalyst Program