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36 The PCB Design Magazine • September 2017 After all, anyone who wishes can simply mea- sure any feature or distance they wish, snapping to the edges or center of features as necessary. However, in situations such as identifying criti- cal dimensions for incoming inspection, even the dimensions can be communicated as data fields within the electronic product model of the PCB. I encourage everyone to take a look at their PCB manufacturing deliverables and ask them- selves and their suppliers, "What can we do to streamline the communications process?" If you view your suppliers as your manufactur- ing supply-chain partners, they will be glad to share their perspective with you. Often, you can significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the information communicated in these drawings and documents by using an intelligent data ex- change format that supports this information being communicated as data instead of a static drawing with text. Think how much time your company could save. We are neither design islands nor manufac- turing silos. We are part of an electronics supply chain, and our collective supply chains are the backbone of the digitalization of the electronics industry. Any steps in the design-to-manufac- turing process that are not operating at maxi- mum efficiency, both in speed and quality, are hindering the pace of progress. Let's not be the last link in the chain left holding the modern equivalent of an eye loop. PCBDESIGN Patrick McGoff is responsible for market development of the Valor NPI tools at Mentor, a Siemens Business. McGoff has had several articles published on the subjects of DFM and data exchange. Figure 3: When information is communicated as a data field, it streamlines the NPI process and reduces the chances for misinterpretation and error. IT'S NOT YOUR FATHER'S DFM ANYMORE