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December 2016 • The PCB Magazine 81 • Simulation & models • CAD & CAE data files • Materials, processes & characteristics • ECOs, revisions, parts, etc. Predictive Engineering Predictive engineering (PE) is the activity of doing trade-offs. It focuses on: • Product definition and system partitioning (technology tradeoff) • Layout and CAD system setup • PWB fabrication design rules, yield optimization and cost tradeoffs • SMT assembly process, packaging component and test tradeoffs • Specifications and documents • Standards and regulations Over the years I have taken various predic- tive models and coded them into Excel spread- sheets. This allowed me to see the effects of various parameters on events. Eventually, using macros, I have linked these 14 spreadsheets into one predictive system that allows me to proto- type a proposed schematic and look at its per- formance and costs without ever actually build- ing it. As shown in Figure 6, this allows the user to improve on any product development or product change process. One key element is missing from this list: the global assignment of custom ASIC pin lo- cations. This would help to reduce PWB and assembly complexity and costs, while assuring better system performance and the best "time- to-profits." UNDERSTANDING PREDICTIVE ENGINEERING Figure 6: For predictive engineering of a PCB, there should be simulations and tradeoffs that cover all the domains that a user finds critical: costs, manufacturability, density, signal integrity and reliability. Figure 5: Emerging data transfer environment.