Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1537388
40 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2025 D ES I G N E RS N OT E B O O K Printed circuit board development flows more smoothly when all critical issues are predefined and understood from the start. As a basic planning strat- egy, the designer must first consider the product performance criteria, then determine the specific industry standards or specifications that the prod- uct must meet. Planning also includes a review of all significant issues that may affect the product's man- ufacture, performance, reliability, overall quality, and safety. Planning strategies must be established that will address several key issues related to the overall end-product manufacturing process: • Design for manufacturing (DFM) • Design for assembly (DFA) • Design for test (DFT) • Design for performance (DFP) • Design for reliability (DFR) • Design for safety (DFS) Basic PCB Planning Criteria: Establishing Design Constraints by Vern S olb erg, C onsultant Virtually all choices made during the PCB design planning process will affect every aspect of the final product's cost, performance, and reliability, and its influence on the environment. The planning and development of the product becomes the joint responsibility of a team of individuals represent- ing each technical discipline, and the circuit board designer is the key participant within this team. Component Selection and Placement While most component parts are designed for sur- face mounting, some devices (connectors, power components, and the like) may require through- hole mounting. Component standards have also become vital in the evolution of product miniatur- ization, reinforcing the manufacturing infrastructure and developing guidelines for most commercial semiconductor package outlines. Semiconductor package outline standards are