The Knowledge Base: The Pivotal Role of Solder Paste
Standard of Excellence: The Advantages of Working With Small PCB Businesses
Solder Printing: A 1:1 Ratio of Technical and CreativeHidden Cost Drivers in PCB Design
September 5, 2024 | Cherie Litson, CID+, Litson1 ConsultingEstimated reading time: 1 minute
I recently taught a CID+ course, and if you’ve ever taken a CID or CID+ course, you know that we discuss cost adders quite a bit. When I asked the class of 15 design engineers their ideas on the biggest cost adders, the first and strongest response: the project manager.
Are you surprised by their answer? After over 40 years in the industry, I wasn’t. If you step back and look at the process of product development, you’ll see that many decisions that affect costs down the line really do take root with the project manager.
After reviewing my own experience and that of many other designers, I referenced my favorite source for defining cost adders: the IPC PCBA Checklist 17. Here you’ll find most of the cost adders that we all encounter to one degree or another. As you review the checklist and see who is responsible for many of the decisions, you’ll find it all starts with the project leader.
Everything you’ve read about the cost-saving process is controlled by the project leader’s actions; the project leader is like the chef in the kitchen.
The engineers and designers will then limit their decisions based on the requirements set by the project leader. They become the “sous chef” in the process. The engineers and designers then set the limits and specifications in their documentation affecting purchasing, fabrication, assembly, and test. They become the “station chef” or “line chef.” That’s why the CID and CID+ classes focus so much on the design engineer’s decisions. But no one really addresses or guides the project leaders for their role in the cost saving process.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the August 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
SAMI Advanced Electronics Company and King Saud University Celebrate 25 Years of Landmark Partnership
09/16/2024 | SAMISAMI Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), celebrated the 25th anniversary of its groundbreaking partnership with King Saud University (KSU).
Momentus Enters Into Collaboration Agreement with Lodestar Space for Robotics in Space
09/13/2024 | BUSINESS WIREMomentus Inc., a provider of satellite buses and in-space infrastructure services including in-space transportation, hosted payloads, and other in-orbit services, entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Lodestar Space to integrate a robotic arm onto a Momentus Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV).
Kimball Electronics Mexico Provides Shares for Local Preschool
09/09/2024 | Kimball ElectronicsKimball Electronics Mexico (KEMX) recently donated a shade net to the CAIC Nuevo Amanecer Preschool in the local community.
CELUS Goes Global with Simplified Electronics Design Process
08/29/2024 | BUSINESS WIRECELUS, announced the worldwide availability of its revolutionary AI assisted hardware design platform that empowers engineers with the ability to find the right components for their projects through smart algorithms and the use of machine learning and AI.
Zhen Ding Technology Holding Limited Thailand Plant Construction Milestone
08/29/2024 | Zhen Ding TechnologyThe Thailand plant under Zhen Ding Technology-KY (4958), the global leader in PCB, groundbreaking in December 2023 and held a topping-out ceremony on August 26, 2024.