CAD Structure & AI Product Configurator Development
About The Business: The Awning Company is a UK-based manufacturer of bespoke vehicle awnings and outdoor structures, serving sectors including motorsport, hospitality, and leisure. The business designs and produces high-quality, made-to-measure products using CAD tools such as SOLIDWORKS. The company has a strong appetite to adopt digital technologies, particularly DriveWorks, to automate design and sales processes
Overview: The business designs and produces high-quality, made-to-measure products using CAD tools such as SOLIDWORKS. The company has a strong appetite to adopt digital technologies, particularly DriveWorks, to automate design and sales processes. However, they currently lack the internal time, skills, and structured CAD foundations required to implement such tools effectively. While individual parts (e.g. awnings and cassette boxes) exist in CAD, they are not yet organised into standardised assemblies suitable for automation. In addition, the business does not currently offer customers the ability to configure products online, meaning that sales and quotation processes remain manual.
Desirable Skills: Basic knowledge of CAD (preferably SOLIDWORKS or similar). Understanding of engineering drawings and assemblies. Basic understanding of UX/UI or web-based tools
Job Description:
Introduction and Background
The Awning Company is a UK-based manufacturer of bespoke vehicle awnings and outdoor structures, serving sectors including motorsport, hospitality, and leisure.
The business designs and produces high-quality, made-to-measure products using CAD tools such as SOLIDWORKS.
The company has a strong appetite to adopt digital technologies, particularly DriveWorks, to automate design and sales processes. However, they currently lack the internal time, skills, and structured CAD foundations required to implement such tools effectively. While individual parts (e.g. awnings and cassette boxes) exist in CAD, they are not yet organised into standardised assemblies suitable for automation. In addition, the business does not currently offer customers the ability to configure products online, meaning that sales and quotation processes remain manual. This creates an opportunity to both improve engineering efficiency and explore new digital sales capabilities.
Project Goals and Objectives
- Develop structured CAD assemblies in SOLIDWORKS
- Create 3–5 standardised awning assembly models using existing components within 120 project hours, ensuring consistent naming, structure, and reuse.
- Create 3–5 standardised awning assembly models using existing components within 120 project hours, ensuring consistent naming, structure, and reuse.
- Prepare CAD data for future DriveWorks implementation
- Identify and document key configurable parameters (e.g. size, mounting type, materials) and produce a basic configuration logic framework within 60 hours.
- Identify and document key configurable parameters (e.g. size, mounting type, materials) and produce a basic configuration logic framework within 60 hours.
- Design and prototype a sales configurator MVP
- Develop a basic configurator concept and prototype within 60 hours, enabling customers to configure 1–2 core awning products.
- Develop a basic configurator concept and prototype within 60 hours, enabling customers to configure 1–2 core awning products.
- Explore AI (Claude) for guided product configuration
- Test AI-supported approaches to product selection and configuration and produce a simple interaction model within 40 hours.
- Test AI-supported approaches to product selection and configuration and produce a simple interaction model within 40 hours.
- Produce a digital implementation roadmap
- Deliver a final report and presentation within 20 hours outlining readiness for DriveWorks, next steps, and expected benefits.
Scope of Work, Methods, and Tools
The intern will work across both engineering and digital innovation domains to deliver practical outputs.
CAD and Engineering (SOLIDWORKS):
- Review existing CAD part files (awnings, cassette boxes)
- Develop structured assemblies with consistent hierarchy and naming
- Ensure assemblies are reusable and suitable for automation
- Document assembly structure and parameters
Configuration Logic (Pre-DriveWorks):
- Identify product variables and configuration options
- Create a simple rules-based logic structure (e.g. spreadsheet or document)
- Align assemblies with future automation requirements
Digital Sales / Configurator Development:
- Map customer journey for configuring products
- Define product options and user inputs
- Develop a wireframe or low-code prototype configuration
AI Exploration (Claude):
- Test AI for guided selling (e.g. prompting users through product choices)
- Develop a simple AI-assisted configuration concept
- Evaluate feasibility and benefits for the business
Tools Used:
- SOLIDWORKS (existing CAD software)
- Spreadsheet tools (e.g. Excel) for logic modelling
- AI tools such as Claude
- Basic prototyping tools (e.g. Figma, low-code platforms, or similar)
Timeline with Milestones (300 Hours)
Phase 1: Onboarding and Scoping (30 hours)
- Understand products, CAD files, and processes
- Define assembly standards and project priorities
Milestone: Clear project scope and structure defined
Phase 2: CAD Assembly Development (120 hours)
- Create 3–5 structured assemblies
- Apply naming standards and validate usability
Milestone: Core reusable assembly models completed
Phase 3: Configuration Logic Development (60 hours)
- Identify configurable parameters
- Build basic configuration rules framework
Milestone: CAD models ready for future automation
Phase 4: AI & Configurator MVP (60 hours)
- Map customer configuration journey
- Develop prototype configurator
- Test AI-driven configuration concepts
Milestone: Working MVP for sales configurator
Phase 5: Testing and Final Outputs (30 hours)
- Refine outputs with business input
- Produce final report and recommendations
Milestone: Final deliverables and roadmap completed
Intern Roles and Responsibilities
The intern will:
- Analyse existing CAD models and product structures
- Develop structured assembly drawings in SOLIDWORKS
- Identify and document product configuration logic
- Research and test AI tools for guided product configuration
- Design and build a basic sales configurator prototype
- Engage with Sharon (Director) and relevant team members for feedback
- Document findings and produce final recommendations
Expected Outcomes and Success Metrics
- Structured assembly drawings created 3–5 reusable SOLIDWORKS assemblies developed from existing CAD parts
- Clear foundation for DriveWorks implementation Documented CAD structure and configuration logic ready for future automation
- MVP sales configurator developed: A working prototype enabling configuration of 1–2 awning products
- Improved digital readiness
- Increased confidence and understanding of digital tools within the business
- Clear roadmap for next steps
- Practical recommendations for implementing DriveWorks and expanding configurator capability
Intern Skills Required
Essential:
- Basic knowledge of CAD (preferably SOLIDWORKS or similar)
- Understanding of engineering drawings and assemblies
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Good communication and ability to document work clearly
Desirable:
- Interest in automation or product configuration
- Awareness of AI tools (e.g. Claude)
- Basic understanding of UX/UI or web-based tools
- Experience with spreadsheets or logic modelling