1. Why do we need GD&T when we already use simple +/- tolerances?

Coordinate (+/-) tolerancing is adequate for size, but it fails to define complex shapes, orientations, and positions. GD&T provides a "functional" toolkit—using Datums and specific tolerance zones—tailored to how the part actually works.

The ROI: By defining exactly how precise a part needs to be to perform (and no more), you save on manufacturing costs by widening non-critical tolerances and preventing product failure.

2. Is face-to-face training better than cheaper online modules?

Technical subjects like GD&T require high "stickiness." While an online course provides a certificate, a face-to-face facilitator uses educational techniques designed to overcome common student struggles. Most importantly, they can apply the logic to your actual company drawings, turning abstract theory into an immediate solution for your specific products.

3. Which standard should we be trained on: ASME Y14.5 or ISO GPS?

You should train on the standard used by your customers or your manufacturing floor. ASME Y14.5 is dominant in North America, while ISO GPS is the standard for European markets. Using the wrong "language" leads to expensive translation errors between design and the shop floor.

4. How quickly will we see a Return on Investment (ROI)?

Much of the ROI is immediate. Your engineers and technicians already know what it takes for a component to work, but without GD&T, they struggle to express those needs clearly. Training gives them the vocabulary to define requirements accurately.

5. How does this impact our Quality Assurance team?

GD&T provides "clear instructions" that standardize the measurement process. By establishing a clear Datum Reference Frame, you remove the ambiguity of how a part should be measured.

Outsourcing Advantage: This clarity makes it possible to safely outsource CMM work to third-party labs, as the method ensures any lab, anywhere, will interpret the drawing the exact same way.

6. Do our machinists need to know this, or just the designers?

Communication is a two-way street. If the shop floor doesn't understand the method, they cannot optimize their setups. Shared knowledge ensures that manufacturing isn't over-processing a part that has a generous functional tolerance.

7. Didn't our staff learn this already at TAFE or University?

Most academic programs only provide a brief introduction to GD&T symbols—they teach what a symbol is, but not how to apply it to a complex assembly. Professional training focuses on functional application.

8. Can we just have our internal "GD&T Guru" teach the others?

Being an expert at GD&T doesn't make someone an expert at teaching it. Professional facilitators have trained thousands of students; they understand the common pitfalls and use proven techniques to make the knowledge "stick." An internal guru is often a bottleneck; professional training builds a self-sufficient team.

9. How do we measure the success of this training?

Beyond the technical accuracy, management should look for:

• Quicker drawing approval cycles with significantly fewer red-line markups.

• A reduction in Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) caused by fitment issues.

• Lower scrap rates due to "functional" acceptance of parts that +/- would have rejected.

10. Doesn’t our CAD software handle the tolerancing for us?

CAD software is a tool, not an engineer. While CAD can help apply the symbols, it does not understand functional requirements—it doesn't know how parts slide, spin, or bolt together in the real world. Only a trained human can determine which surfaces should be Datums based on the part's assembly logic.

Redpoint Consulting are pleased to offer GD&T courses. These courses are developed by an expert mechanical engineer who has not only been trained in GD&T but also applied it extensively across multiple industries in collaboration with a learning development professional with a doctorate in technical training.

 

Real engineering examples and effective adult learning principles are used in these courses to demonstrate how to implement GD&T.

 

Hands on problem solving activities are provided to ensure participants can transfer the techniques to their job.

 

We provide customisation of the courses to your needs by using you own company engineering drawings. Trainees can then apply GD&T on products they are familiar with.

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Please send us an email at enquiries@redpointconsulting.com.au if you have any queries about our services and we will get back to you shortly.