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70 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2026 BY K E L LY ATAY, AS C S U N STO N E T he quoting process has always been an im- portant part of high-quality PCB prototyping and manufacturing. With supply chain dis- ruptions and intensifying demand for domestically produced boards, that is even more true today. As we've previously discussed in recent articles, as well as in our book The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to Designing for Reality, board designs are becoming more complex. So is manufacturing them. Everything from inventory management to shop floor staffing has gotten harder in recent years, all while the pace of business accelerates. Project development teams need to move fast, and even though designs are more complex, they need their PCB quote requests turned around and their boards manufactured tout de suite. Designing with the quote in mind means preparing for the quote process while you are still working on the design. Be thinking about the components you will include in your request and whether the complete quote request package contains every- thing your manufacturer needs to respond within the allotted time. Complex PCB designs, such as those for UHDI boards, usually require careful analysis by the manufacturer to determine whether specialized manufacturing processes or materials are needed. Juxtaposing elements like a higher layer count and tighter tolerances against an aggressive production deadline takes time to work through. Give Your Manufacturer Everything They Need With complex designs in particular, the quote pro- cess should be collaborative and focus on value drivers, not on filling information gaps. It is common for key elements to be missing from quote requests, most notably in the BOM. The more complete the quote request, the more collaboration between de- signer and fabricator focuses on goals such as ac- celerating production timelines, substituting hard- to-find materials, improving yield, or reducing costs. Quote requests should include: • Gerber files: Are they complete? Do they include all necessary specifications for copper layers, solder mask, nomenclature, and drilling? • Fab drawings: Do they include all required dimensions and tolerances? C O N N ECT T H E D OTS Design With the Quote in Mind