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Most designers favor manual routing, but today's interactive autorouters may be changing designers' minds by allowing users more direct control. In this issue, our expert contributors discuss a variety of manual and autorouting strategies.
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How to Discover and Equip the Next Generation of Talent
February 18, 2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute

The demand for skilled PCB designers is at an all-time high, with one-third of engineering jobs in the United States going unfilled. Addressing this talent gap involves solving two interconnected challenges: discovering where to find the next generation of PCB designers and equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving field. These two efforts are fundamentally linked and require a strategic approach that bridges education, mentorship, and innovation.
Where Will We Find the PCB Designers of the Future?
· High school outreach and engagement: One promising avenue is early exposure. High schools can be fertile ground for identifying and cultivating young talent, especially if we make PCB design accessible and relatable. Framing design as a creative, problem-solving discipline that is not unlike the strategies and skills used in video games can capture students’ imaginations. Interactive workshops, hackathons, and design competitions tailored to younger generations could demystify the field and demonstrate its relevance to everyday life and its potential as a very fruitful career choice. A good example of fostering the new generations is the national program such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a global nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (grades preK-12).
· Apprenticeships and internships: Apprenticeships provide a hands-on approach to learning that complements theoretical education. By partnering with local businesses, trade schools, and colleges, companies can offer real-world experience to young people. This model not only fills immediate staffing needs but also nurtures long-term talent pipelines.
To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the February 2025 Design007 Magazine, click here.
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07/01/2025 | Kelly Dack -- Column: Target ConditionFor PCB designers, just hearing the word “autorouters” can trigger everything from eye rolls to heated debate. We all have stories—some painful, some comical—of boards gone sideways at the hands of an overzealous routing algorithm. But these tools aren’t going away, and frankly, they shouldn’t. Used wisely, they can save some project teams hours or even days. Used blindly, they can cost weeks. So, where do autorouting tools stand today, and is interactive routing the smarter path forward?
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EU Defence Electronics Ecosystem Highlighted in Brussels
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Smarter Machines Use AOI to Transform PCB Inspections
06/30/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineAs automated optical inspection (AOI) evolves from traditional end-of-process inspections to proactive, in-line solutions, the integration of AI and machine learning is revolutionizing defect reduction and enhancing yields, marking a pivotal shift in how quality is managed in manufacturing.