Why Should PCB Design Engineers Care About More Than Just Design?

Are you aware that a non-dynamic Bill of Materials (BoM) can derail your product launch? Did you know that focusing solely on design can strain your revenue, margins, and cash flow? PCB design engineers are often celebrated for innovation and design prowess, but there's a critical aspect that's frequently overlooked: the design for production, supply chain resilience, and manufacturability. Let's break it down:

The Cost of Neglecting the Supply Chain, DFA, & DFM

• Re-spins and Delays: Inaccurate BoMs lead to re-spins, delaying time to market.
• Financial Impact: Delays can result in cancelled or pushed back purchase orders (POs).
• Strained Product Launch: A non-optimized BoM puts the product launch at risk.
• Revenue and Margins: Every delay chips away at potential earnings and profitability.

Real-World Implications for Various Industries

• Consumer Electronics: A missed product launch window can mean obsolescence.
• Medical Devices: Delays can impact critical health innovations.
• Aviation: Safety and compliance depend on precise, timely production.
• Automotive: The competitive market leaves no room for supply chain inefficiencies and plenty of room for lost market share.
• Machinery: Industrial progress hinges on the timely delivery of robust equipment.

The People Behind the Scenes

• R&D Engineers: Innovators who could benefit from supply chain insights.
• Board Design Engineers: The architects of PCBs, often focused on technical specs.
• NPI (New Product Introduction) Engineers: The bridge between design and production, yet often siloed from supply chain dynamics.

The BoM Optimization Platform: A Game-Changer

• Real-Time Market Data: Stay ahead with component risk insights from the start.
• FFF Alternates: Get recommendations for Form, fit, and function alternatives to improve deliverability.
• De-risking the Supply Chain: Proactive measures and data to secure your production line.
• Improved DFA (Design for Assembly): Ensuring initial designs are production-ready.

The Disconnect

Why aren't PCB design engineers incentivized to consider production and supply chain factors?

• Cultural Focus on Innovation: The thrill of the new often overshadows the practical.
• Lack of Awareness: Engineers may not see the direct link between their designs and the supply chain.
• Inadequate Tools: Without platforms like ikido.tech's BoM Optimization, engineers lack real-time data.
• Educational Gaps: Curriculums may not emphasize the importance of design for manufacturability.

The Shift That's Needed

• Education and Training: Incorporate supply chain and DFA into engineering curriculums.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Encourage collaboration between engineers and supply chain professionals.
• Incentive Structures: Reward designs that are optimized for production and supply chain resilience.
• Advanced Tools: Provide access to platforms that integrate real-time market data into the design process.

PCB design engineers play a pivotal role in the success of a product. However, without a shift in perspective and incentives towards production, supply chain resilience, and manufacturability, companies risk financial loss and market irrelevance. The adoption of tools like the Ikido.tech BoM Optimization Platform can bridge this gap, ensuring engineers have the necessary data and insights to make informed decisions from the design stage onward.

About Mr Eron. Guy Eron serves as the CEO and founder of Ikido.tech. With two decades of industry experience in operational product lifecycle and supply chain management he is dedicating his time to tackling the challenges associated with BOM (Bill of Materials) risk management.