Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541840
36 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 B E YO N D D ES I G N Feature C olumn by B arr y O lney, In-C ircuit D esign PT Y LTD / Australia The PCB design flow is sequential by nature, transitioning through distinct yet interdependent phases, from initial back-of-the-envelope concept sketches to schematic capture, constraint defini- tion, physical layout, verification, and finally, gener- ation of CAM deliverables. Each stage builds upon the last, and any delay, however minor, can cascade downstream, amplifying pressure on subsequent phases. Inevitably, layout becomes the phase where accrued delays and design friction surface. By the time the layout begins, the schedule is often already compromised. Designers frequently inherit compressed timelines caused by upstream indeci- sion, shifting requirements, or incomplete inputs. Layout becomes the bottleneck, where the cumula- tive impact of earlier oversights is exposed. This phase not only exposes the fragility of the planning process but also demands rapid problem- solving under pressure, often without the luxury of iteration. In high-complexity designs, the stakes are even higher, as signal and power integrity, EMC, and time-to-market converge with little margin for error. Managing Linear Workflow Bottlenecks