Telephone conversation a few weeks back between myself and a friend.

He is a Piping
Designer but has been assigned to Design Systems/Automation
FRIEND- Hello, Edwin, I have something to ask you
ME- Hello Buddy, shoot
FRIEND- As you know, I am assigned now to Design Systems/Automation group here in our
company. Now, instead of a temporary assignment, I actually want to shift this group as I
love it here!
ME- hmmm well ok..
FRIEND- So I want to ask you, what course should I take on the local Technical school here?
ME- ... I don't get you.. what do you mean courses?
FRIEND- Like you know, do what you do?
ME- As in PDS Administration?
FRIEND- Yeah something like that and a whole lot more. I want to know how the whole
backend thing works for the project.
I ended up sending an email to him instead on my reply and this is how it went down.
If you want to be a PDS Administrator, you must have the following technical expertise:
1. Oracle or SQL - for project creation, database handling
2. RIS Schema - Relational Interface System where tables can be viewed and edited
3. PDS Project Creation
4. PDS Modeling - very good to expert handling of modeling for all discipline: Piping
Modeling, Equipment Modeling, Structural/Frameworks Modeling, Electrical Raceways
Modeling and HVAC
5. Orthographic Drawings - setup of border, IPlot settings, drawing creation
6. ISOGEN - settings of Iso default sets, iso border, isometric extraction
7. Interference check - resolution and setting up ownerships, actual clash check
Support
1. Should be able to support designers on Modeling problems
2. Should be able to support designers on problems in Iso extraction
3. Should be able to direct designers on good practices in modeling and overall PDS
execution of projects
4. Answers to Project Lead/ Project Manager for PDS concerns
Management
1. Development of PDS Execution plan.
2. Development of Non-PDS documentation (all 2D drawings)
3. Development of Automation plan (supporting tools not PDS like construction software,
stress, etc)
I did not give this answer to my friend to intimidate him but instead, I laid out a roadmap for
him. This would be attainable if this could be broken down into the following functions:
RDB Admin - wherein one only concentrates in developing RDB. Knowledge of Materials
Engineering is a must. Purely a Piping Engineering function.
Discipline Application Specialist (DAS) - good handle of modeling skills for a specific
discipline. RDB Admin is part of job. Example, a DAS for Electrical should be knowledgable in
INTOOLS, Structural should be knowledgable in Frameworks libraries, etc
One doesn't become PDS Administrator overnight. The rank is earned through handling of
various projects and challenges it present. I would give it 10 years of experience doing and
mastering all skills and expertise I laid out above in order to become one. Anything lesser
than that falls either as RDB Admin or DAS