Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541840
40 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025 team—typically four or five members—from key disciplines in a dedicated space, isolated from the broader organizational noise. This format fosters: • Real-time cross-communication, eliminating paperwork, email lag, and misinterpretation • Rapid problem-solving, with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing voices con- tributing as one team • Accelerated decision-making, reducing bot- tlenecks, and avoiding the dreaded "design by committee" paralysis The result is a more agile, resilient design process where issues are addressed collaboratively and proactively, rather than reactively and under duress. I have implemented this approach on numerous occasions, consistently achieving positive results across diverse projects. Cultivating a mindset of proactive ownership rather than reactive firefighting is the cornerstone of sustainable performance. It means shifting from scrambling to solve problems after they erupt to anticipating challenges before they surface. Train- ing, visible leadership modeling, and a culture that celebrates process wins as enthusiastically as outcomes fuel this transformation. When we empower teams to take initiative, align early, and iterate with purpose, resilience becomes second nature and chaos loses its grip. Work-life balance begins with systematic work- load management, creating space for life to thrive beyond the desk. With smart planning, teams deliver and still realize the concept of leisure. It's not just about avoiding burnout; it's about coordi- nating your time so that productivity and personal fulfillment coexist. DESIGN007 Barry Olney is manag- ing director of In-Circuit Design Pty Ltd (iCD), Australia, a PCB design service bureau that spe- cializes in board-level simulation. The company developed the iCD Design Integrity software, incorporating the iCD Stackup, PDN, and CPW Planner. You can download the software at icd.com. au. To read past columns, click here. B E YO N D D ES I G N Superconducting Qubits: Delicate Powerhouses Quantum bits, or qubits, are key components in many quantum computers. Unlike classical bits, which can be either 0 or 1, qubits can also exist in a superposition of both states, allowing quantum computers to process in- formation in a way that exceeds classical computers for some problems. Channeling the power of qubits could advance fields like medicine and materials science. Superconducting qubits are made from materials that lose electrical resistance when cooled tonear ab- solute zero. This allows for extremely fast quantum op- erations, often completed in billionths of a second. Qubits are incredibly delicate, like a gyroscope spin- ning on a smooth surface. If the surface is clean and free from disturbances, the gyroscope spins steadily. However, the slightest imperfection, such as a speck of dust or a vibration, can cause it to wobble and fall. Similarly, qubits rely on a fragile quantum property called coherence, which allows them to maintain super- position. But heat, noise or material flaws can cause decoherence, destroying this superposition and forcing the qubit to lose information. That's why superconduct- ing qubits, which are particularly sensitive to decoher- ence, require ultraclean, cold environments to function properly. Researchers at the Department of Energy's SLAC Na- tional Accelerator Laboratory are exploring ways to en- hance the precision and coherence of superconducting qubits by employing advanced fabrication techniques and state-of-the-art measurement tools. "The scale of the lab is invaluable as we work to de- velop practical quantum devices," says SLAC staff scientist Shannon Harvey, who studies superconduct- ing qubits. "SLAC combines the expertise of lifelong researchers in diverse fields with advanced tools that let them focus on creating nearly perfect devices. Our collaboration with academic experts from Stanford Uni- versity in superconducting technologies and quantum information gives us a unique edge in building high-fidel- ity qubits that will make quantum computing practical." Source: A. Sundermier, SLAC National Accelerator Lab.