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50 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2019 Five Tips to Start Your Product Development Design What tips should you provide when design- ing a new product? Here are five for you to consider. 1. Ask the Right Questions When starting a product development pro- cess, you need to ask all of the important ques- tions—why, how, where, what, when? What is possible, cost-effective, legal, and smart? Find the best solution for the heart of your electrical product—the PCB! 2. Do Your Research When the concept is set, research and anal- ysis begin. Involve an experienced partner to help you identify challenges, growth potential, and compliance. 3. Do Not Skip Steps If PCB design is not your strength, involve someone with the skills. This will save you from costly mistakes. The same goes for the choice of the manufacturer. 4. Know Where You Produce Make sure to have a trusted partner for pro- duction, offering transparency, documenta- tion, and audited manufacturers. 5. Do Not Forget Documentation When your product is ready for launch, use a partner with a global delivery platform and experience. You do not want your product to face trouble on the finishing line. Product Development Process At Elmatica, we have split the product devel- opment process into six steps from idea gener- ation to launch. We have supported the devel- opment of thousands of products throughout the years. Even if the process is more or less the same in 2018 compared to 1971 when we started, some things have changed. Outsourc- ing part of the supply chain is more frequent, and the products have increased in complexity. What is the result of this? The involvement of the right competence and knowledge in every step is more important than ever. Designing PCBs Is an Art Often, we see a design that is not feasible or possible to produce. Sometimes, the improve- ments needed are either time-consuming or difficult. You just need to know what to look for and how to solve it. Designing PCB is a bit like art; there are holes, pads, and wires that need to connect. While the painting might end up on the wall inspiring many, the perfect PCB drawing might end up saving you lots of chal- lenges later in the process. However, an artist might not always start with a set purpose for their design, but a PCB designer aims to fill a very specific one with strict schematics as the base. Because we all know that PCBs are not shelf goods. As with anything else in life, PCB design fol- lows the same rules: The more you know be- fore you start, the better. What environment will the printed circuit be in? Will it fit into a box? Will tall components need to be laid down flat to fit? Will flex-rigid be the best solu- tion? Will this affect the cost of the PCB or the final product? How many PCBs are ideal to fit into one panel? Can a different design optimize panel utilization? Important "Dos" to Remember No matter where your product will end up, the better you plan and design, the better the end product will be. What we often preach when it comes to PCB designing is the follow- ing points: • Consider early cost planning, which might prevent unnecessary surprises later • Involve the supplier as early as possible, and make sure the right capabilities are available • Do you possess the needed PCB knowledge? If not, involve a partner who does • Consider risk vs. cost and reliability, as this can affect both choices of technology and capability