Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1348195
MARCH 2021 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 21 Kolar: Yes, or they can have such limited infor- mation that you're not getting all the pieces. You're not getting the mechanical require- ments. You're not getting things and then they say, "Oh, I don't know. Just make it a board. I don't know." Matties: When you go into a meeting and you hear somebody who raises these flags, or you walk away with those concerns, what do you do about that? Kolar: On our end, we usually try to end up putting more effort into getting the right infor- mation out, so, we essentially do part of their job for them. Matties: You question everything, I would think. You're like a detective, basically. Kolar: Yes, we question everything. "Hey, who else can we talk to on your team? Who else can we bring in that might have this knowledge?" We try to approach it in a way that doesn't make them look bad. We say something like, "Hey, where can we get you more support or who else on your team might have this knowl- edge?" We're going to be making some assump- tions, documenting those, helping them reach out to the fabricator. Essentially, we're filling in the gaps for them. Matties: Happy, did you have any thoughts here? Holden: I've been listening, and thinking, boy, don't we live in an exciting time in an inter- esting industry in which complexity keeps multiplying on us? But we need to get some manufacturing curriculum at the university or community college level so that electrical engineering students get at least a little bit of introduction to the world of manufacturing. If you don't understand some of the basics of manufacturing, those people who do will shoot past you. Everybody wants to move up, but the education is not going to start aer you have your diploma. Kolar: Very true, yes. Putting more of that application into the theory, into the programs. Matties: Mark, did you have final thoughts you want to share? Thompson: I just wanted to recap: Ask the right questions. Sometimes it requires extracting that information from the customer. Some- times it requires leading the customer in the right direction. And know your tools. If you know your tools and set up the rules correctly, you'll be able to build it. Kolar: Time and communication. Which steps have to be done first? Which ones can you do in parallel, and just how do you document that communication and change? Matties: is has been very, very useful. We greatly appreciate your expertise and your time and willingness to share with us. It's so appreciated. Kolar: You bet. It's fun to have these conversa- tions. Matties: Well, we keep trying to be a voice of change and help companies improve, and you guys are a big part of that, so we appreciate it. Thompson: ank you, Barry. DESIGN007