Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Our 10 person engineering department is going to start the 3D modeling.

our target is to increase accuracy and decrease time for CNC.

as a background, we're all located in 5 different locations. We have a server we all use for CAD, but we're concerned about speed since some connections are slow. 

Also, how would we set up the network?

i use inventor, and I have my own parts library. I do a lot of work off-site, so if I move everything to the server I don't have remote access. Other guys have laptops as well. 

Also, I'm trying to see if we can import assemblies to ERP/MRP

[#2]

I might look at Autodesk's Fusion 360 which is fully Cloud Based. It should be released this year. All data is stored on the web with a local user interface app. As long as you have a internet connection you can log-in and work on the data stored within the Cloud.

All the "heavy lifting" is performed on the cloud so any Windows or Mac based PC can work on the largest of models. AU2012 they even hinted that tablets and iPads could/will be able to work on large assemblies. All that is required is a small user interface app that install on the local machine

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=20884205&siteID=123112

With your description of local users and remote users and having problems to access your server along with the type of data transfer rates to connect and work remotely it would be tough to manage your data.

[#3]

Another choice would be a Wide Area File System (WAFS) product.  These are software or hardware based solutions to accelerate the flow of information between sites.  It could be as simple as mirroring directories between servers or as sophisticated as dedicated hardware using special algorithms to reduce the data flow across the WAN.  There are dozens of solutions out there. 

We use Riverbed (hardware) between our sites to accelerate data flow.  It can often cut repeating data by 90%+.  It only sends the data that has changed in the file.  It has the ability to accelerate many kinds of data; CIFS (think windows file manager), Exchange and several other protocols on the network.

Start with these links to get an introduction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_area_file_services

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_File_System_%28Microsoft%29

http://www.globalscape.com/wafs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverbed_Technology

-Brian Cranston