Our QA blog series looks at different members of our team and their perspective on the most current 3D printing and CAD technology. This month’s QA features Andy Jaskey and SOLIDWORKS Certifications.

Meet Andy Jaskey, Elite SOLIDWORKS Application Engineer

1. Describe yourself in five words or less.

Not terribly coordinated, but enthusiastic.

2. What are you most passionate about?

I love helping smart people do cool things. I also love boats, from design to construction to use. Any day spent in a boat, on any body of water, is a good day in my book.

3. Does your passion for SOLIDWORKS carry over to your life outside of work?

Yes, I have used SOLIDWORKS to design and build an electric cardboard box smoker, a kayak, and to solve several mundane problems around the house.    

Andy’s Role at TriMech

4. What is your role at TriMech and your background in engineering?

I studied mechanical engineering, and had an internship designing and building automation equipment. I then spent several years in the injection molding and contract manufacturing industry, helping customers develop their designs for manufacturing. At TriMech I am an Elite SOLIDWORKS Application Engineer. I help customers get the most out of their engineering tools, by providing technical support, teaching classes and onsite customer visits. Because of my background in plastics, complicated, curvy geometry is my specialty. 

5. What does the process of becoming an Elite SOLIDWORKS Application Engineer entail?

Achieving the Elite SOLIDWORKS Application Engineer status entailed passing certifications that include SOLIDWORKS CAD tools, as well as customer and VAR facing certifications for PDM, Simulation, Plastics and Flow. In my case, it required holding a total of 25 current certifications. In addition to these certifications, I also needed to show a history of supporting and contributing to the greater SOLIDWORKS community. 

Going In-Depth with SOLIDWORKS Certifications

6. What do SOLIDWORKS Certifications offer that other CAD/software certifications don’t? What do they offer for users and employers? 

SOLIDWORKS is widely seen as the industry standard for CAD. With that, there are many users with SOLIDWORKS skills on their resume. SOLIDWORKS certifications are useful to employers to ensure that potential candidates have the necessary CAD skills for the job. In addition, it helps managers know who the design rockstars are in the office. From the employee’s perspective, certifications provide an objective way to demonstrate his or her SOLIDWORKS skills.

Currently, there are 16 certifications available to SOLIDWORKS users. For newer users, there is the SOLIDWORKS Associate exam. For the more experienced user, the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) would be a good certification to start with. As your skill improves, and after passing the CSWP, there are advanced certifications in specialized areas, that culminate with the Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE). If Simulation is more your area of expertise there are associate and professional exams for Simulation as well. 

7. What advice would you give to other engineers trying to become SOLIDWORKS Certified?

For the CSWP, I would recommend the SOLIDWORKS essentials class. Even if you are not interested in certifications, I would recommend the essentials class. In addition, the certifications closely follow courses taught by TriMech. From advanced surfacing to PDM, we have you covered! Certification allows others to know quickly you can meet their needs. It is also a way to show continued professional development.

Want to learn more about SOLIDWORKS Certifications? Download our guide, How to Get SOLIDWORKS Certified.