Gordon, Inc. Outpaces Competitors with Tailored Training For Autodesk Revit

Founded in 1964 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Gordon, Inc. has grown to over 175 employee-owners with a state-of-the-art 255,000-square-foot facility and a global network of 70+ independent agents. Specializing in sustainable architectural metal products for various environments, Gordon, Inc.’s offerings include specialty metal ceilings, wall systems, and trims. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions, creating divisions for cleanrooms, acoustic systems, security ceilings, exteriors, and data centers. Known for custom CNC fabrication and eco-friendly finishes, Gordon, Inc. emphasizes environmental responsibility and ethical behavior.

Gordon, Inc. found themselves at a technological crossroads where historic design methods and manufacturing systems intersected with available newer technologies and processes. Because Autodesk Revit had, over time, become the collaborative link between their internal design team and intermediate project architects and general contractors, they needed the ability to utilize Autodesk Revit to create shop drawings that could also enhance their communications with their supporting subcontractors and end-clients through both the design and manufacturing stages of a project’s lifecycle.

While their design and innovation tools were still relevant, they realized they needed to increase their understanding of the advanced capabilities available in those existing tools.

Training for new hires became an obvious and critical need in ensuring that the team members use their creative Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) tools efficiently and consistently with corporate methods and standards. Their leadership conclusion was that if a new hire is left to train themselves, their compliance with corporate standards and procedures is an extremely low probability.

Tailored and personalized training was essential in unifying their diverse team, which had varying experience levels and familiarity with Autodesk solutions.

In less than 18 months as Engineering Manager, Patrick Larkin reported that the top request from both the design and engineering teams was custom training.

Gordon, Inc. is experiencing significant growth due to expansion and acquisition. As a result, their "work in process" is increasing at a rate that necessitates enhancement in their throughput capabilities to achieve their corporate objectives and address increased client demands.

Gordon, Inc.’s corporate business case and looming challenge was to equip their design team through increased proficiency with Autodesk Revit to create shop floor drawings within a 6-to-12-month period while also becoming more proficient with the advanced features of Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.

Gordon, Inc. aimed to create a more cohesive and connected relationship between their existing Autodesk solutions, enhance their team's efficiency, and fuel greater productivity.

Gordon, Inc. leadership established a commitment to improve team morale in their working atmosphere and collaborative environment by increasing investment in professional development for their team members.

After conducting an initial needs assessment, the Team D3 training group recommended the Evolve 360 tailored Training program to Gordon, Inc. as the most viable solution for addressing their business case and related challenges.

The Team D3 Evolve 360 Training program began with an initial evaluation exercise for each enrolled student, creating a unique baseline reference point centered on the specific Autodesk software solution in which each student was to be trained.

Additionally, because the Evolve 360 training model allows for remote delivery, Gordon, Inc. students could attend all training classes conveniently from their corporate offices or remote sites, thus accommodating all team members.

The creation of shop drawings using Autodesk Revit has streamlined communication with the shop floor, intermediate architects, general contractors, and the end client. This has resulted in two key benefits: 1) Gordon, Inc. now has design software platforms and a training partnership with Team D3 that aligns with the state university design school curriculum. This partnership has opened new employee recruitment channels and a robust internship program.  2) Stronger employee loyalty due to Gordon, Inc.’s commitment to continuing education and professional development which breeds a greater level of innovation and productivity across their entire design team and related corporate stakeholders.

Less than 18 months into the Evolve Training program, 19 students from Gordon, Inc. have completed over 300 classes in AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Autodesk Revit. The impact was so immediate and significant that they had not initially prepared a list of metrics to measure the impact on their project lifecycles. They only knew they had tapped into an invaluable resource. 

To quantify these gains, a team member with moderate skills in AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit was tasked with creating shop drawings from the same "contractor input" using both programs. The results were striking: the task took 12 hours in AutoCAD but only 90 minutes in Autodesk Revit. 

Through the Team D3 Training program, Gordon, Inc. was able to train all their design team members to a higher level of proficiency allowing Gordon, Inc. to make significant strides toward meeting their corporate goals.

The Evolve 360 training program is equipping Gordon, Inc. to not only preserve but to elevate its commitment to its prestige as a "custom provider," as opposed to its "cookie-cutter" competitors, further emphasizing the value of tailored training programs like Evolve 360 in maintaining their competitive edge.

Bottom line, Gordon, Inc. is benefiting from an increase in visibility, traceability, and accountability through all project lifecycle stages. These gains ultimately benefit their end clients with faster turnarounds, better collaboration among all project stakeholders, and more efficient system delivery and installation, all resulting in better post-delivery long-term client support.

“I often emphasize that you can be a customer anywhere, choosing an item off the shelf at any store, whether it's the cheapest or the most expensive—that's what a customer does. However, a client is someone who depends on you for your expertise and insights. At Gordon, Inc., we take pride in serving clients and providing the customized support they need.”     -Patrick Larkin, Engineering Manager