Solidworks Certification...How Good Is It?

Solidworks is a tool, nothing more. In your case, it can look good on your portfolio for competency as well as an extra skill.

Yeah, i agree with You bro,,

sometimes in jobs, just look resulted from what we do, Like solid works is a tools for support our job, however if you have skill leke solid work or etc,,it is important for your carieer to get more and more again,,,,, good Luck Bro

At least plain I speak?

If it will improve your SW capabilities go for it - but if you just wan't to do it because of the certificate then its a waist of time - just write on your CV that you've got excellent solid modelling skills. Your an engineer - its pretty much a given that you've got enough brains to know its not a good idea to lie on your CV..

but probably depends from company to company..

Very insightful, JavaHead. I see how SW is a tool that explains design intention. The design is however heavily dependent on/constrained by materials and manufacturing methods. Given your PM skills, do you agree that ALL redesign of existing products are, in one way or another, motivated by either cost reduction or quality improvement? Or perharps I suffer from some type of tunnel vision.

"Given your PM skills, do you agree that ALL redesign of existing products are, in one way or another, motivated by either cost reduction or quality improvement?"

No, I do not. Existing products are redesigned for any number of reasons. Certainly, the reasons you mentioned are significant and play their role in motivating redesign. But often they are considerations in a redesign process that was motivated for other reasons:

Safety, Improved Functionality, Improved Manufacturing Methods and Processes, Manufacturing Efficiency, Consumer Awareness, Expectations of Change, Competition, even Sociological Trends.

Look at automobiles; they are redesigned for a plethora of reasons that change from year to year. One driver is competitive market advantage… redesign to provide a better or more enticing product than your competitor. And 'more enticing' doesn't necessarily mean cheaper or better quality.

Another driver is improved materials that are available… alloys, plastics, polymers, carbon fiber; or Manufacturing Processes… the advent of hydro-forming for example.

Related to Expectations of Change, consumers expect the 2013 Mustang to be different than the 2012 but manufactures can't afford drastic changes every year so there are many years where there are only changes to trim options, superficial redesigns driven solely by the consumer's expectation of change. These rarely improve quality or reduce cost, but rather are change simply for the sake of change.

Then there is Awareness and Sociological paradigm shifts… Environmental Sustainability, for exanple, is a HUGE driver for redesign presently. Many product redesigns are being driven by environmental sustainability often at increased cost and reductions in quality… but they're Greener.

In summary, Cost Reduction and Improved Quality are always considerations and should always be part of the initial design and redesign process, but they are not always the motivator.

Have been a mechanical designer for 25 years in Canada. Have used all types of CAD software, CATIA, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor etc, etc. Have a CSWP (Certified SolidWorks Professional) certification for about 5 years.

One word, useless.

Its been my experience that a software certification, while nice, isn't going to make or break you for getting a job nor will it generally impede your career progression. But then again, its only $100, so it can't hurt.

Personally, I'd take the money and get a GD+T certification (ASME Y14.5M-2009) above anything else, if you don't already have one. An employer would be far more impressed with that than knowing that you know how to click icons.

Only a $100.00 worth of hurt

With all due respect to the Dassault Systémes and SW-Reps outfits, If you want to pursue a career as system administrator, go for it. Leave it to our designers and drafters. The drafting part is important. But if you do have already few internships under your buckle. That experience weights much more than 1000's $100 SW certs together.

Once you start working as a full blown engineer, your employer will focus more in your potential as engineer itself, how analytical you are, ability to address relevant technical solutions as needed. The drafting part is carpentry. Very soon your boss will realize how good you are without being SW Certified. Depending in what industry you will be working, perhaps (if you enjoy it that much) I would invest that money into a next SW medium level course, or a Project Management type training. Soon you might find yourself overseeing one or two Drafter or designers working with you.

This is my professional/personal opinion. Kind Regards.

If you have already shown proficiency in Solidworks at another job then no big deal. I would go do the GD&T course or something else. I did get my professional cert (CSWP) and yes it has gotten me to the top of the list for candidacy but it is not necessary. It would just be an extra blip on your resume.

If it gets you even one or two additional interviews, it is well worth $100.

Getting into the building and talking with the real deal makers is second only to networking in today's job market. Or maybe it is first.

If you haven't already, take and pass your Fundementals of Engineering exam. If you take it now its much easier than having to set for it in a few years so you can set for your PE.

I am a mechanical engineering college student with three internship experiences.

finelineconstruction

If you're offering him a job, you could have sent him a PM. Otherwise, your post might be construed as an advertisement.