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30 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2022 they mostly give you the overall picture. Don't forget to verify the details with the production manager or engineer, not just the salesperson. • Go to your extremes with one of the dummy boards and stay within common parameters with the other. Get both quoted and then do your comparisons. • Visit the manufacturing sites if you can, either virtually or in person. If the facility is clean, organized, and the production engineer seems competent, you've got a good manufacturer. • Price vs. lead time is important. So are shipping time and other delivery delays if you're going overseas. • Inspection and testing capabilities will impact the design. What are their limitations? • Qualify two or three manufacturers and stick with them. • Find out what documentation formats they prefer, how much information is enough, and how much is too much. Sending ODB++, Gerbers, and IPC-2581 files to your fabricator and assembler actually costs more. ey must look at and compare all of them. • Good customers get discounts. Become a good customer. Listen and Learn Don't be afraid to engage in collaborative creativity with others. Where there's a will, there will be a way to accomplish what you need. It may not always look like what you thought it would. • Read articles, take classes, go to industry product shows. • Teach/mentor others when appropriate. • Join organizations like PCEA, IEEE, SMTA, IPC, and EDA. One of my favorite publications that defines the feature costs for fabrication and assembly, titled "PCBAChecklist17" is free from IPC. ere are so many gems of knowledge in that single publication. I give it to every designer and engineer I know. I've created presenta- tions from data embedded in its pages. I even recreated one of the tables that I felt applied best for design teams to follow regarding DFM issues in the board. My version defines who should be involved in the decisions and who needs to be notified or consulted for those decisions. e charts in the publication do have more information than what I've extrapolated and I'm sure there are more things that can be added to my list, but it's a good start. I hope you take it and make it your list. DESIGN007 Cherie Litson, CID+, is a master design instructor for EPTAC and an instructor at Everett Community College. She is also the fouder of Litson1 Consulting. One of my favorite publications that defines the feature costs for fabrication and assembly, titled "PCBAChecklist17" is free from IPC.