Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544155
24 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 but they often have limited exposure to what constitutes a complete and manufacturable wire harness design. That is where clearer standards and education can make a real difference. Tool providers also play an important role. Many companies rely on the same core design plat- forms, and those providers are well-positioned to educate the industry on best practices for defin- ing complete design data, not just how to use the software. Combining better education with smarter design tools would significantly improve the quality of information that flows to suppliers. Jacob: This is another initiative our team is work- ing on: a data exchange that lays out the mini- mum requirements. But it's easier said than done because each CAD tool company has its own ecosystem to promote. Vrobel: We all agree it's all about education. Nobody goes to school to become a wire harness engineer, and universities don't offer degrees in this field. Yet it's a very important domain that needs to be represented. When a mechanical or electrical engineer is assigned to design wire harnesses, they may not know the manufacturer's requirements. We are starting at the end and working back- ward to ensure the manufacturer has a seamless process when receiving requirements from their OEMs. We outline the requirements in the data packages, then discuss formats. It's almost easier, but getting all the required data into the design package isn't well-defined in the design output process. As Monesh said, the tools need to identify for the designer what is missing in the design process. We think that WHMA and the Global Electron- ics Association should have a more formalized specification of what constitutes a proper design and what needs to be included. That specification should define the minimum elements required in a design data package: connector definitions, termi- nal and seal references, wire specifications, cavity assignments, routing or length data, and a struc- tured bill of materials. When those elements are standardized, the industry can finally create a true digital thread from design through manufacturing. Then we need to use that to educate and train the OEMs and customers in proper wire harness design. It's a lot, but it's doable and important. Arik, is standards development underway, or is this a call to action to the Global Electronics As- sociation to get started? Vrobel: Yes, this is a call to action for WHMA to define and develop a training and even a certifica- tion program, like the standards for PCBAs, and other domains like mechanical manufacturing, just as many years ago, IPC-620 was introduced for the manufacturing of wire harnesses and has now become our standard for manufacturing. That's what's missing. Is it your mission to see this agenda into action? Do you just provide the framework, roadmap, and recommendations, or do you continue to work further down the line? Who makes it a reality? Vrobel: If we don't, nobody will. The great thing about our team, and now with the Data Exchange Team, is that many of us have been in the industry for a long time. We are passionate about making things better. We understand how valuable this is. We're not really a recommending body; any initia- tives we take, we've got to see them through to practice. The wire harness industry has historically re- lied on craftsmanship and experience to solve problems. Those strengths remain essential, but the scale and complexity of modern systems now require a digital foundation that allows information to move seamlessly from design to manufacturing. Our goal is to help define that foundation for the next generation of engineers and manufacturers. Jacob: Even a 3,000-mile journey starts with a single step. It will be difficult, but that single step has been taken, and I believe it's in the right direction. Thanks, everyone, for taking part. This has been insightful. SMT007