APRIL 2023 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 75
One of the biggest challenges facing
PCB designers is not understanding
the cost drivers in the PCB manufactur-
ing process. The next final finishes to
discuss in this series is OSP. As with all
surface finishes, there are pros and cons
with the decision of which to use. It is a
combination of application, cost, and the
properties of the finish. OSP is RoHS-
compliant as there is zero lead content
in the finish.
If you haven't noticed recently, the PCB design
industry is struggling. It is an understatement
to say that we are facing a talent shortage.
I constantly get phone calls regarding open
positions and the need for more designers.
At one time, there were designated PCB
designers. But with the first economic downturn
in 2008, talent shortages hit many companies.
Next in line to fill the designer vacancies were
electrical engineers (EE). But that came with
inherent problems.
PCB designer Adam
Thorvaldson of
Innovex was a final-
ist in this year's IPC
Design Competition
at IPC APEX EXPO. He came in second
place in this final heat. We asked Adam
to share his thoughts on the competition,
what it means to be one of the winners,
and any ideas about improving the con-
test for 2024 in Anaheim.
To put it simply, tribal knowledge is
information or skills known by an
individual or group that is not known
outside that group. One of the
trademarks of this definition is that
it's commonly used to describe
functional—but undocumented—
knowledge essential to the
operation of an organization.
We've heard a lot lately
about the need to identify
tribal knowledge within our
organizations. How do you
know whether an "expert"
is sharing documented knowledge? We asked IPC
design instructor Kris Moyer to explain his process
for separating the wheat from the chaff, so to speak,
in design knowledge. As he points out, a true expert
will not be afraid to cite the sources and data sets
behind their arguments. Ask questions; maybe
there is a reason why they "always did it this way."
During DesignCon, I spoke with
James Hofer from Accurate Cir-
cuit Engineering about some
of his customers' biggest chal-
lenges. We discussed various
ways to increase the level—and
quality—of communication between design-
ers and fabricators. James also offered some
interesting observations about bridging the gap
between designer and fabricator.
For the latest news and information, visit PCBDesign007.com
Runner-up Discusses
IPC Design Competition
Elementary, Mr. Watson:
If Not You, Then Who?
DFM 101: Final Finishes: OSP
Optimizing Communication
Between Fabricators and Designers
Tim's Takeaways:
Tribal Knowledge—Not
the Villain You Thought
True Experts Can Cite Their Sources
James Hofer
