Growing Pains - CAD Designer A. O. Smith Employee Review

2.0
Jan 26, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The pay is good. The benefits are also very good.

Cons

There is a disconnect between manufacturing, engineering and CAD design. Manufacturing basically tells engineering how they are supposed to design, and what a drawing is supposed to look like. They don't want to look at a fully detailed drawing. They say that it would only confuse manufacturing, or the shop floor. Any ideas of improving the methods here are quickly shot down. There's no room for someone who thinks outside of their box to move up. When there's a problem on the line the engineers don't really have a detailed set of drawings to work from. So they usually have to go back to a series of 3D models in order to fix a drawing. They FORCE you to take certification tests in Solidworks. They have made it a REQUIREMENT that we take one certification test a year. The CAD Supervisor is exempt from taking these tests. They also FORCE you to write up 2 improvement suggestions a year. These improvement requests have to be accepted before you get any credit for them. You can't just put one in and get credit, they have to like what you submit.

Explore other reviews about A. O. Smith

5.0
Apr 13, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great employee benefits, not just health and dental, but beyond that. Great employees in general. Work life balance is perfect.

Cons

No complaints really, except for not always having enough work to do.

4.0
May 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I absolutely loved my job and I was really good at it. Friendly environment. Opportunity/Room for growth.

Cons

Unforgiving point system that is definitely not formed with mother's in mind. I lost a lot of points because my kid's bus was running behind. My last point was because a deer totaled my car. I even abandoned my car immediately and tried to make it to work on time because I was more worried about points instead of the wreck. I was told I could apply again in 6 months by HR and then I found out that was a complete lie.(after WAITING for 6 months)

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