Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1408619
54 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2021 In many instances, design modifications can be handled by the manufacturer, who will follow up with a completely new set of design docu- mentation of their work. While this may not fit every design team's workflow, it is a ben- efit that should not be ignored to help with unscheduled changes or overflow work. 4. Explore the use of more collaborative tool functionality with your manufacturer. Many design tools now feature utilities that help enhance the communication between cir- cuit board design teams and PCB manufactur- ers. Using data transfer standards, such as IPC- 2581, these design utilities allow design teams and manufacturers to efficiently exchange cir- cuit board layer stackup information and fab and assembly files. Systems like these help the collaborative PCB design process by making it easier for designers and their manufacturing partners to communicate with each other as they work together to build a better product. More and more designers and manufacturers are facing the financial necessity of finding new ways to improve the efficiency of the business partnership. Fortunately, by continually build- ing on the collaborative relationships they already have, they are already on their way to further streamlining their design processes. As with all aspects of our industry, it will be rewarding to see how these collaborative rela- tionships grow and what new benefits come from them. Until next time everyone, keep on designing. DESIGN007 Tim Haag writes technical, thought-leadership content for First Page Sage on his longtime career as a PCB designer and EDA technologist. To read past columns or contact Haag, click here. 1. Build a business relationship with your manufacturer prior to designing the board. e business of PCB manufacturers is to build circuit boards, and they have a lot of experience building a great many types for dif- ferent applications. With their experience they can add a lot of value to the project while it is still in the design phase. For instance, a good PCB manufacturer will review the board's bill of materials to ensure that the parts specified are available and at a good price. If there are problems procuring any of the listed compo- nents, the manufacturer will oen be able to make recommendations on component or cir- cuitry changes to help. By engaging with the manufacturer early on, you can leverage their knowledge and experience to help design a better board. 2. Involve all members of the design team when working with the manufacturer. Many business relationships rely on a single point of contact, but that practice can hamper the productivity that a fully collaborative part- nership can make possible. It is important that all stakeholders in the design have accessibility to their manufacturing partner in one form or another to speedily resolve issues and get ques- tions answered. As an example, a part change recommendation from the manufacturer should be passed through the design team's CAD librarians as soon as possible to get new schematic symbols and PCB footprints ready for the design. 3. Use the engineering and other professional resources available at the manufacturer. PCB manufacturers oen have engineering teams that can help with schematic develop- ment or changes, design reviews, layout altera- tions or enhancements, and test development.