Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1190860
10 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2019 Think about this for a minute: If someone asked you what you need to know to be a great PCB designer, what would you say? Where would you even begin? There are a lot of cool things happen- ing in electronics technology, but, at times, it can be difficult to keep up with everything. Designers need to have at least some understanding of more types of technology than ever before. Fortunately, PCB de- signers are a lot like detectives; they like getting to the bottom of things, solving puzzles, and simplifying complex issues. That's a good thing because it's only getting more complex, or more interesting, if you will. At the board level, even if you're not dealing with RF right now, you should know something about some of the issues that RF engineers are facing. The same holds true for HDI; even if you're not work- ing at that level, it's in your best interest to be familiar with HDI. And if you're not dealing with sig- nal integrity issues yet, as the say- ing goes, you will be soon. And then there are all of these other revolutionary technologies that aren't even directly related to PCB design, such as 5G, IoT, and the smart factory. There are also autonomous and electric vehicles, and all of the supporting technologies surrounding the automotive segment. How are these concepts going to affect your day-to-day job? The jury is still out, for the most part, but you need to keep abreast of these ideas just the same. All of this innovation is proving to be great for business. Electronics manufacturing is one of the engines driving the economies of North America, Europe, and Asia. The U.S. The Shaughnessy Report by Andy Shaughnessy, I-CONNECT007 What You Need to Know