Trouble in Your Tank: Organic Addition Agents in Electrolytic Copper Plating
Marcy’s Musings: Can You Hear the Voices?
Facing the Future: Successfully Navigating the Uncertain Path Ahead
The PCB Designer of the Future: Blending Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability
February 3, 2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The global demand for electronics is skyrocketing, fueled by rapid technological advancements and groundbreaking innovations across many industries, including automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, and consumer electronics. PCB design is the foundation of electronic hardware and lies at the heart of this evolution.
PCB design has always existed in a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, but in the past few decades, the pace of transformation has been nothing short of revolutionary. It drives everything from smartphones and medical equipment to industrial automation and aerospace technology. PCB design is pivotal in propelling technological progress and innovation forward. This evolution in PCB design has produced multiple specialties, but I want to focus on a specific specialist known as the PCB designer (aka the printed circuit engineer). I strongly believe this profession is the true master of this domain and plays a crucial role in designing a PCB.
I have experienced the dramatic evolution of the profession and role of the PCB designer over the past few decades. I was fortunate to enter the field in the late 1980s, which means that I have never had to experience “hand taping” a PCB design. The role of the PCB designer and the PCB design process have come a long way from manual hand-taping and drafting to sophisticated computer-aided design. Today's designers are part of a high-tech field requiring technical expertise, collaborative abilities, and creative problem-solving. If I were to look into a crystal ball, I would see that the next 10 years promise even more profound changes in the tools, responsibilities, and challenges PCB designers will face.
The Changing Role of PCB Designers
PCB designers of the future will create not just layouts or place components; they will serve as system-level architects. Their work will encompass a broader range of responsibilities, requiring collaboration with hardware, software, and mechanical engineering teams. Key shifts include:
- AI-augmented creativity: AI will handle routine tasks like auto-routing and optimization, freeing designers to focus on system integration, trade-offs, what-if scenarios, and innovation.
- Sustainability advocacy: Designers will prioritize eco-friendly PCBs by selecting recyclable materials, optimizing layouts for energy efficiency, and balancing layout solvability, performance, and manufacturing with environmental concerns.
- Interdisciplinary expertise: Combining knowledge from electrical and mechanical engineering, materials science, manufacturing, and software development will be essential to navigate the complexities of next-generation technologies.
Read the rest of this article in the January 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine.
Share on:
Suggested Items
AdvancedPCB Appoints Gary Stoffer as Chief Commercial Officer
04/18/2025 | PRNewswireAdvancedPCB is proud to announce the appointment of Gary Stoffer as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In this role, Stoffer will lead all sales, marketing, and commercial strategy initiatives as the company continues its mission to deliver cutting-edge PCB solutions to industries worldwide.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Aster–Enhancing Design for Effective Testing Strategies
04/18/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOWill Webb, technical director at Aster, stresses the importance of testability in design, emphasizing early engagement to identify testing issues. This discussion covers the integration of testing with Industry 4.0, the need for good test coverage, and adherence to industry standards. Innovations like boundary scan testing and new tools for cluster testing are introduced, highlighting advancements in optimizing testing workflows and collaboration with other tools.
IPC Strengthens Electronics Industry Awareness with Appointment of Carrie Sessine as Global Communications Vice President
04/16/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the strategic appointment of Carrie Sessine as vice president of global communications. This newly created executive position underscores the association’s commitment to championing the electronics industry's critical contributions to global innovation and economic growth.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Emerging Trends in Design and Technology
04/16/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOAndy Shaughnessy speaks with IPC design instructor Kris Moyer to discuss emerging design trends. They cover UHDI technology, 3D printing, and optical data transmission, emphasizing the importance of a skilled workforce. The role of AI in design is highlighted, along with the need for understanding physics and mechanics as designs become more complex. The conversation concludes with a focus on enhancing math skills for better signal integrity.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: EPOCH Expands With Automation
04/17/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOWith a 35-year history, EPOCH is expanding its operations in Bangalore, India, focusing on automation and customer collaboration. Phil Marcoux leads a task force for AI in PCB design, working with various companies to enhance collaboration, and cites that, historically, data sharing has provided the greatest challenge for AI development. Luckily, he says, that is changing. EPOCH combines AI and traditional methods in manufacturing, especially in product design.