Explain 10 things to consider when designing outsourcing PCB

It is important to outsource your PCB design work. How do you know that the final result will be consistent with your expectations? Will you have complete control over your design? Will you achieve the quality you expect within the required time frame?

Outsourcing may cause some rather terrible problems - so they are the key factors to be considered, and what are the traps to avoid?

1 – PCB design | Will outsourcing serve you?

PCB design outsourcing is completed by many companies, involving a series of industries from one person's business to large design bureaus. Similarly, there is no blueprint for the type of outsourcing companies or the reasons given.

Many small organizations may not be able to hire PCB professionals or have enough design work for them to work full-time. However, when new product development occurs, the demand for these skills increases, and in order to innovate and adapt, these skills suddenly become a hot commodity. In these cases, the ability to have these skills on demand becomes a key part of the potential success or failure of the project, and outsourcing this key element may cause many companies to worry. However, many bureaus and freelance designers can prove that they are vital lifelines to bring products to the market on time, reduce costs and make small organizations better, and meet the needs of customers/clients.

But outsourcing is not only for those organizations without internal personnel. Organizations often seek external PCB design support because the required skills exceed those of internal electronic design professionals. In some cases, internal professionals sometimes need other support and advice, especially if they have limited knowledge of the latest industry developments in the design, software or manufacturing fields. High speed signal, matched routing length and signal propagation mode are just some elements that make PCB design more challenging. Complexity is often driven by the need for smaller, faster technologies.

PCB Design Bureau can also intervene during the transition period between high turnover rate, absence of multiple projects or employees, holidays or full-time employees. Whatever the reasons for considering PCB outsourcing, these reasons are neither new nor insurmountable. PCB Design Bureau is used to completing and meeting the required project specifications of various industries and standards within an urgent deadline.

2 – Hello, are you looking for a PCB?

The first thing to understand is your crux, so you actually need to consider the elements of outsourcing. Is it schematic input and library work, component placement, track routing, or a complete end-to-end process from design to manufacturing and testing?

When considering outsourcing, it is important to consider how much work and processes are required. Five stages of design; Initial design review and integration, mechanical definition, layout and review, routing, pre delivery and review are critical to the success of the work. You and the PCB designer/bureau need to understand these stages in order to save time, reduce costs and reduce costs. Design time can be considered.

It is important to fully understand the project and the work required before outsourcing the project, and it can usually ensure that the work can be carried out more efficiently. There are some great articles that can help you understand more about the design process and the scope of the prestigious design bureau. They are happy to answer any questions or concerns you have. Make sure that the process allows you to enter your information at each step. Many larger organizations offer screen sharing options that give you a comprehensive understanding of what is going on during project development. It also allows you to view the real-time design on the screen for appropriate discussion to drive the design forward.

It is important to fully understand the project and the work required before outsourcing the project, and it can usually ensure that the work can be carried out more efficiently.

circuit board

3 – PCB design | Preparation failed, preparation failed

Data preparation and database management are time-consuming activities, but they are key parts of the process. If they are not completed correctly, they may seriously damage the success of the project. The importance of properly preparing data and managing the library, from including all parts of the library to sorting out the data sheets of each project, cannot be overestimated.

Some PCB design bureaus will provide this service, but some will not, so it is important to understand the requirements before starting work. Some companies will expect a fully CAD generated schematic, but many can also work with hand sketching if needed. The initial plan plays a very important role, especially when communicating the plan. This can add complexity when positioning the appropriate elements and parts for the design.

4 – PCB design | project management triangle

Never heard of it? There are not many people.

Before you decide to outsource PCB design, one question you should ask yourself is "What is important to the success of this project?"

You might think of a simple question – it must be done on time, within budget, and in good shape. However, one thing that people often forget is that these three parameters are variable, and without the coordination of these three elements, one aspect of the project will always be missing.

The project management triangle is shown below.

Obviously, the best place to go is the center, where all time, quality and price targets are met - but this is not always possible. Therefore, you need to consider your own choice, because different outsourcing options are usually located in different parts of the circle

Part 1 – This option is generally considered a convenient method. The work will be completed on time, and the work to be performed as required will get a reasonable price, but there may be reliability and quality problems. As long as the design is simple and there are few mistakes, cheap and cheerful outsourcing is great. However, if the design requires multi-layer, high-speed cabling and other more complex layout problems, additional rework and testing can be carried out to save time and cost. Available

Part 2 – This option is most likely an independent professional. Because of their low overhead costs, they are usually able to provide high-quality services at a relatively reasonable price. However, due to the nature of their independent contractors, if they are good at their own work, they usually have a lot of work to do. Once, it takes more time to complete the work. However, when multiple tasks are completed at the same time and individuals do not have additional support personnel to adjust and adapt to customer needs, the challenge comes.

The last part 3 is usually composed of PCB Design Bureau, which is a group of designers engaged in various designs, usually with rich PCB design knowledge and experience. There are many such schools all over the UK, with different majors, different levels of experience and training. This option is generally considered to be the most reliable and effective, but sometimes it will increase the cost. The increased cost may have a significant impact on the overall results of the project, but if the potential alternative is that the project is late or has functional problems, it can finally be selected according to its importance.

Obviously, when looking for a suitable PCB outsourcing option, you want to be as close to the center of the figure as possible, but make sure you have considered the consequences of exceeding the goal and which factors are most critical to the success of the project. Don't forget that the quoted initial cost is only the initial cost. You get what you need to pay, and usually accumulate other costs and add them to the final bill, which greatly affects your bottom line and manufacturing costs.

5 – PCB design | quality, quality, quality

It seems obvious, but if you plan to outsource, reliability will be a key factor in the decision-making process. This is not just about whether they are on the other side of the phone when you need them, or whether they deliver projects on time. These are important, but there are other reliability aspects to consider.

The quality of design work is crucial. When you can't afford rework and costly errors, unreliable contractors can seriously consume project time, money and effort. It is important to ensure that you have a competent team, but how can you tell that they are what they say?

Well, the first thing to look for is whether they have the correct ISO9001 certification, and whether the design professionals engaged in your work have passed the IPC CID or CID+certification. Many PCB design professionals have received years of professional training, but high-level education cannot replace experience, so it is essential to ensure that PCB design professionals in work are consistent with the latest international electronic technology and design standards. To ensure that the work you want to complete reaches the correct standards and quality.

In terms of reliability, it is also important to consider where to send your information and who to contact. Many PCB subcontractors are happy to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure the protection of products you are applying for patents or product information that is strictly protected. It is also worth considering how secure your information is in the hands of the outsourcing partner. For some organizations, it is mandatory to seek confirmation from government agencies before outsourcing PCB design.

6 – PCB design | communication

A good and effective communication process for any outsourcing is essential. Knowing what the customer is looking for and how to deliver it can be a challenge, especially when two people are looking at the same product but have different ideas and impressions about how to complete it. Usually this is where the biggest mistake can occur. Setting up the initial schematic correctly is critical to the long-term success of the project.

With this in mind, proper communication methods are also crucial. Many companies use online chat, which not only enables companies to work together, but also allows them to use screen sharing technology to ensure that changes are consistent with both parties, so once the design is completed, they can sign and agree. By both parties. The circuit board processing manufacturer explains 10 things to consider when designing outsourcing PCB, the key factors to consider, and the pitfalls to avoid.

The development of cloud technology also helps to share large, data heavy documents, which means that work can be shared, modified and modified, thus speeding up decision-making and delivery time. With this in mind, geographic distance is no longer an issue, and companies are sourcing designers from afar based on their work and the quality of production (rather than location).

7 – PCB design | Long term commitment

Usually, when someone decides to take the route of outsourcing their PCB design, they will always return to the organization again (obviously accept satisfactory job competition). This can be a useful tool when looking for suitable outsourcing partners. Check their website for company case studies, suggestions and online reviews. If other companies are happy and continue to return, they will likely become good partners.

It is also recommended to establish a long-term partnership, because outsourcing partners can better instinctively know what other matters need attention in the design or manufacturing process. Once subcontractors are familiar with your procedures and design requirements, they will be accustomed to the challenges and methods of making these designs successful.

8 – PCB design | outsourcing?

When considering outsourcing, quality is the most important issue for many people, and the last thing you want to do is to find a suitable designer for you through the whole process, check their accreditation, and cooperate with the organization only to ensure that the work they promised to do has been outsourced to another organization.

This may be quite common. Even if organizations can trust the companies they outsource to, the question is whether their standards will be maintained if they use multiple designers and companies. This is not always a problem, but others in the communication chain may encounter challenges, which may eventually bring additional costs and challenges.

9 – PCB design | value for money

It doesn't just mean that you receive the right product at the right price. It refers to the number and frequency of PCBs you need to develop. For some organizations, PCBs are required on a regular basis and with the formation and development of products, for example. New product range or technological progress will require PCB changes. In this case, internal design functions and software can be seen as a good investment.

However, for some companies, PCB design is rarely or temporarily carried out. In this case, it is usually cheaper and easier to outsource. Ultimately, the return on investment needs to be cumulative.

10 – PCB design | Improvement of professional knowledge

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest reasons for choosing to outsource PCB design work is the knowledge and experience that can be used and utilized in cooperation with organizations that regularly carry out such design work.

Professional PCB designers do all kinds of design work every day, so their familiarity with software is unparalleled. They also regularly carry out training and development, so that they are at the forefront of development in the industry. They have the ability to respond and adapt to customer needs, and bring more ideas and solutions to the table, which helps support and enhance your project. An excellent design team will handle hundreds of projects from various industries and play a crucial role in bridging the gap between product development and manufacturers by providing immediate skills. The circuit board processing manufacturer explains 10 things to consider when designing outsourcing PCB, the key factors to consider, and the pitfalls to avoid.