IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546209
F E AT U R E A RT I C L E 36 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2026 BY ST E P H E N V. C H AV E Z , S I E M E N S E DA A N D P C E A "Who designs the PCB?" sounds like a sim- ple question, but it assumes there's a simple an- swer. In reality, every discipline involved in product development, from electrical and mechanical engi- neering to manufacturing and procurement, has a hand in designing the PCB. Today's products are created through constant collaboration among mul- tiple engineering disciplines, each influencing de- cisions that affect performance, manufacturability, cost, and reliability. A Significant Evolution The PCB designer has not simply gained access to better tools, more automation, and/or sophisticated design methodologies. The role itself has changed. A discipline primarily focused on translating elec- trical connectivity into physical layout has become a critical integration point where electrical perfor- mance, mechanical constraints, manufacturing ca- pability, supply chain realities, and product reliabil- ity must all converge. WHO REALLY DESIGNS THE PCB?