Driving Innovation: Mechanical and Optical Processes During Rigid-flex Production
It’s Only Common Sense: Your Biggest Competitor Is Complacency
The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
What Do You Know About PCB Manufacturing?
January 11, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Much of a designer’s job involves creating a product that is compatible with the capabilities of their chosen fabrication and assembly providers. But very few PCB designers have visited a board shop or assembly facility in decades, if ever, and seemingly simple DFM problems continue to dog our industry. What manufacturing concepts are designers missing?
We posed this question to Tony Bell, division manager of San Diego PCB Design, which was acquired by APCT in April 2023 and continues to operate under its original name, with plans to transition to its official new name of APCT Design. Tony has experience in PCB design, fab, assembly, and test, so we asked him what PCB designers need to know about manufacturing. He said the need for designers to continue learning about fab and assembly processes throughout their careers, and why asking questions is not bothersome, it’s necessary for the job.
Andy Shaughnessy: Tony, you have a pretty wide background in this industry. Tell me about that.
Tony Bell: I've been in this industry for a while, and am fortunate to have a diverse background that got me to where I am now. I came to San Diego PCB Design from Plexus in October 2021. At Plexus, I learned assembly process flow and I was an in-circuit test technician. Later, one thing led to another, and I moved into Plexus’ Engineering Solutions, where I managed the North American region’s PCB design team. There, 12 designers reported to me in Neenah, Wisconsin; Guadalajara, Mexico; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Boulder, Colorado. Now that San Diego PCB Design has been purchased by APCT, I’m enjoying learning more about advanced fabrication as a design manager on the fab shop side.
Shaughnessy: What do you think designers and design engineers need to know about manufacturing processes?
Bell: They need to know that the manufacturing process is ever-changing. This goes for electrical interfaces, fabrication, assembly, and test. Designing in a vacuum without a desire to learn new things can be stifling to a designer’s ability to grow in their capabilities as well as their ability to contribute to their organization.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the January 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
WestDev Announces Advanced Thermal Analysis Integration for Pulsonix PCB Design Suite
10/29/2025 | WestDev Ltd.Pulsonix, the industry-leading PCB design software from WestDev Ltd., announced a major enhancement to its design ecosystem: a direct interface between Pulsonix and ADAM Research's TRM (Thermal Risk Management) analysis software.
Industry Veteran Dr. Helen Song Joins Celera Semiconductor to Lead Product Design
10/28/2025 | PRNewswireCelera Semiconductor, the analog industry leader using AI to automate the entire product development flow, today announced that Dr. Helen Song has joined the company as vice president of Product Design.
Mapping the EV Landscape: Markets, Platforms, and Powertrains
10/28/2025 | Stanton Rak, SF Rak Companye-Mobility is the defining transformation of 21st-century transportation. As legacy OEMs, startups, and governments race to electrify vehicle fleets, the landscape of e-Mobility is expanding into previously unimaginable territory. But with innovation comes complexity, and with complexity, a need for systems that are not only high-performing but also reliably engineered for the long haul. Understanding the diversity and scale of the EV marketplace is essential to grasping the reliability challenges ahead.
Cadence Reports Q3 2025 Financial Results
10/28/2025 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Revenue of $1.339 billion, compared to revenue of $1.215 billion in Q3 2024
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Heat—The Hidden Villain of Power Electronics
10/28/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonIf electricity were a group of college students, then power electronics and the PCB designers who dive into it would insist on driving the car on every road trip because they know the car inside and out—they’re the students with jumper cables in the trunk, a tire pressure gauge in the glove box, and snacks stashed under the seat. While the others argue over playlists and directions, power electronics is busy ensuring the alternator doesn’t fry, the headlights don’t dim, and everyone reaches the destination with fuel still in the tank.