Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1538269
48 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by S te p h e n V. C h a vez , S i e m e n s E DA P lacement of PCB components is far more than just fitting components onto a board. It's a strategic and critical foundational step, often called floor planning, that profoundly impacts the board's performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost. Floor planning ties into the solvability perspective, with performance and manufacturability being the other two competing perspectives for addressing and achieving success in PCB design. Effective floor planning is the strategic arrange- ment of components and functional blocks before detailed routing begins, laying the groundwork for a successful design. Floor planning for optimal component placement has the potential to either positively or negatively affect the level of suc- cess in signal routing and overall performance of the PCB, especially when it comes to signal integ- rity (SI), electromagnetic interference (EMI), power integrity, and thermal. If it's wrong, you risk SI issues, EMI headaches, thermal bottlenecks, and a host of downstream problems. It's where the battle for success is often won or lost. Mastering PCB Floor Planning