My boss told me to stop using so many layers in my DWG files

I used to put every single detail on its own layer. Thought I was being organized. Then my supervisor sat me down and showed me a file from a project at the Miller plant where I had 47 layers for a single floor plan. He said I was making it harder for the fabricators to find anything. Now I stick to 12 layers max and group things by function, not by every tiny element. Anyone else get called out for overcomplicating their layer setup?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimblack1d ago

Oh man, 47 layers is wild lol. I once got roasted for having a "miscellaneous" layer with like 30 random details on it and my boss was like "what even is this, a treasure hunt?

dianawilson1d ago

and the thing is, once you get called out for it you realize they're right. I had a similar situation where my boss just opened my file and stared at it for a solid minute before sighing. The trick that worked for me was to limit myself to a standard set of layers that match what the fabricators actually need to filter. Like, separate layers for walls, doors, electrical, plumbing, dimensions, and notes. That's it. Each layer covers a whole category instead of splitting a few lines into their own thing. It saves everyone time and keeps the file clean. The key is to ask yourself if adding another layer is really helping someone find something faster, or if it's just making more clutter.

jessica3311d ago

Real talk - I've been wondering @dianawilson, did you ever go back and show your boss the cleaned up layer setup to prove a point? Because that's the move that actually gets respect instead of just fixing it quietly. Sometimes you gotta let them SEE the before and after.