Missing Links in Manufacturing and Assembly Engineering Drawings
You can make engineering prints more user‑friendly by stripping out “drafting class” assumptions and turning every page into a guided, color‑coded, step‑by‑step map. Think: simple words, clear visuals, and obvious cues that tell a new hire what this is, what matters, and what to do next.
“What am I looking at, and where does it go?”
🧭 Make the print feel like a “tour guide,” not a puzzle
New hires freeze when a print looks like a maze. You fix that by adding:
Plain‑language header “This page shows how Wire A goes from the power block to the motor.”
Short “What to Watch For” box “Look for the red stripe. Make sure the wire stays on the right side of the frame.”
Simple “do this” box “Route the wire through these two clips. Then tie it off at the bracket.”
These boxes act like signposts. They tell the reader what matters before they get lost in symbols.
🎨 Use Drawboard PDF (or similar) to make the print visual and obvious
Most people learn faster with color and shapes. You can use Drawboard PDF to mark up your engineering prints in ways that help new hires understand the flow.
Color‑coding wires on schematics
Pick one color per wire (red, blue, green, yellow).
Trace the wire path with a thick line so it stands out.
Add a small text tag: “Wire A (blue)” so the color has meaning.
Bubble and highlight
Bubble important areas with a bright outline.
Highlight the exact connector pins to use.
Highlight danger zones: “Do NOT route here — pinch point.”
Callouts
Add arrows with short notes:
“Start here.”
“Wire passes behind this plate.”
“Clip goes on the top hole.”
Step-by-step overlays
Number the steps right on the print:
Cut wire to length.
Strip ½ inch.
Crimp terminal.
Route through clips.
Plug into connector.
This turns the print into a mini work instruction.
While we’re talking about wires, label both ends of your prepped wires with unique addressable locations like Plug ABC Pin # 4 on one end, and Plug XYZ Pin # 19 on the other end.
No affiliation, but Drawboard is a good (free) tool I’ve had success with:
📑 https://www.drawboard.com/
🛠 Add routing information when the ERP doesn’t have it
Many shops still run on tribal knowledge - aka “on the job training.” You can help by adding routing notes directly on the print:
Show the path with a dashed line.
Mark each stop: clip, bracket, tie point, bend.
Add simple rules:
“Keep wire 1 inch away from moving parts.”
“Do not cross over the coolant line.”
“Follow the frame edge.”
If routing changes by model, add a small table:
Model A100 A200 A700
Wire Path Front Rear Through
Notes ——Use Edge Guard————
This saves hours of confusion.
🔍 Reduce cognitive load by changing how you write
Most engineering prints are written like legal documents. You can make them friendly by using:
Short sentences
Everyday words
Direct commands
No jargon unless you explain it
Instead of: “Ensure conductor is properly terminated in accordance with IPC‑620 guidelines.”
Which IPC-620 guideline exactly? That book is 500 pages thick.
You’re offloading your responsibility onto the busiest people in the building.
Use: “Crimp the end of the wire with Connector Molex TE ABC. Use Crimper ZYX (instructions HERE) to make sure it looks like (THIS) and meets (THESE CRITERIA) and make sure the metal is tight and does not pull out.”
📐 Add big picture notes so new hires know what they’re looking at
A new hire often doesn’t know what the drawing is. Add a simple box:
What this drawing shows: “This drawing shows the power wires for the left‑side motor. You will connect two wires, route them through three clips, and plug them into the motor.”
This lowers anxiety and speeds up learning.
🧩 Use shapes and icons to guide the eye
Even simple shapes help:
Stars for “important”
Warning triangles for “be careful”
Footprints for “follow this path”
Check marks for “done right” examples
People remember icons faster than text.
🧪 Add “good vs. bad” examples
Show both:
Good routing: wire tight, clean path
Bad routing: wire touching hot surface, sharp bend, loose slack
A picture beats a paragraph.
🧰 Add a “tool list” and “material list” right on the print
New hires waste time hunting for tools.
Tools you need:
Wire cutters
Crimp tool
Tie wraps
Clip pack
Parts you need:
Wire A (blue)
Clip x2
Motor connector
This makes the job feel doable.
🧵 Add a “before you start” checklist
Simple, friendly, and powerful:
Check you have the right wire color
Check the connector matches the print
Check the clips are not broken
Check the path is clear
This prevents mistakes before they happen.
🏁 Add a “done right” checklist at the end
Wire is tight but not stretched
Clips are closed
No sharp bends
No rubbing on metal
Connector clicks in place
This builds confidence for new hires.
🧠 Final thought
Your goal is to make the print feel like a coach, not a test. If a 12‑year‑old can follow it, a new hire can too — and your shop gets faster, safer, and more consistent.
Paper print reading should be possible while walking, holding your print at arm’s length, in your shop’s actual lighting conditions. You can make almost anything look good on a backlit screen at 200% zoom. But that’s a waste of time if it hides the information from the folks who picked it up off the laser printer.
