48 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2024
etc., anything to
increase her com-
mission.
I was so annoyed
that I went home and
wrote a paper on what
good customer sup-
port should be. Aer
all, in any field, we
should employ good
customer support prac-
tices to maintain healthy
business relationships—and not
scare patrons out of the store.
is "paper" I wrote was only meant to vent
my frustrations, but in an amazing turn of
events it was picked up by Design007 Magazine,
and Managing Editor Andy Shaughnessy asked
me to write a regular column for the magazine.
With that, "Tim's Takeaways" was born, and
"Customer Support: Not Just for Customers
Anymore" was the inaugural entry.
at was a whole lot of years ago, and it is
amazing to think of everything that changed
during that time. e unfinished Seaview
model got put on the shelf as I focused on writ-
ing. I've been producing these columns every
other month or so, and it has been a ball. But
as the poet says, "All good things must come to
an end." I have decided to lower the curtain on
Tim's Takeaways. So, if you don't mind a trip
down memory lane, I'll use this last column
to journey back through the last 10 years and
explore the topics these missives have covered.
First, let's look at the technology of our
industry.
The Technology of Circuit Board Design
We've looked at many aspects of PCB
design and manufacturing over the years
and have discussed everything from lay-
out tips and tricks to specific design
types. Some of the earliest of these
included parts one, two, and three of
hybrid design principles, layout tools
for RF boards, and, more recently,
some of the uses for rigid-flex circuits. We've
also looked at the importance of design data
management and how to communicate effec-
tively with PCB manufacturers through fab-
rication and assembly files. In "Design Rule
Checks," "Rules Keep You from Crossing the
Line," and "Take it From Scotty: Simple Really
is Better," we talked about the importance of
setting up, managing, and using your CAD sys-
tem's design rules. However, DRCs weren't the
only design-related topics we covered. Here
are some of the other PCB layout processes we
examined:
• Design standards
• Components
• Layer stackup
• ermal management
• Vias
• Routing
• Power and high voltage
We could continue with topics like PCB
design tools, creating helpful documentation,
and how to work best with your manufacturer,
but technology is just one side of the coin for
PCB designers. e flip side of that coin is how
to use and manage this technology into achiev-
ing the goal—a successfully designed and man-
ufactured printed circuit board.
How to Succeed in the PCB Design
Industry
One of the most important keys to
success for a designer is working well
with others, whether it is a boss, a client,
or co-workers. I first explored this topic
in the inaugural customer support piece, and
again talking about how best to provide
that support. I also looked at support
from the perspective of what design-
ers want for success. Supporting each
other naturally leads to learning and
growing in our profession, as well as tak-
ing responsibility to ensure the job gets
done right.
